The term bioethicist is usually connected with an individual attached to a hospital or university who is useful to the management as someone to rationalize "pulling the plug" on sick people. The new Patient Payment Advisory Board of Obamacare, if the law is implemented, will be filled with such people.

However, there are a small number of traditional conservatives who are bioethicists and one of the most prominent is our own senior fellow, Wesley J. Smith. As of now he has a newly established blog spot, Human Exceptionalism, at National Review Online. He even put on a necktie for the occasion.

Wesley, a lawyer who once upon a time worked with Ralph Nader, has several books to his credit and a long history of testimony before legislative bodies on ethical issues. He keeps a busy national and international speaking schedule while operating from his home in Oakland, CA. He coined the term "human exceptionalism" to combat the idea (as he put it) that the human being is "just another animal in the jungle."

You will still see Wesley's articles, including the blog posts, at the Discovery Institute homepage (under "Articles by Fellows") and often here at Discovery News. Meantime, congratulations to Wesley and to his hosts at National Review for the new connection.