[Needlestick Injuries to Medical Students]. / Nadelstichverletzungen bei Studierenden der Humanmedizin.

The study aimsed at surveying and analysing the prevailing risks for medical students due to so-called needlestick injuries, I. e., injuries to the skin by handling sharp objects by which blood of patients can be transmitted to the health professional. After introducing preventive measures in a typical German university hospital, a total of 1 903 students of human medicine in their clinical period from 2009 to 2012 (from a total of 2 024 subjects - a rate of 94.0%) were questioned in detail about potential needlestick or other injuries related to their work. The results show that such injuries happen particularly during the clinical period of the medical studies: While only 20.6% of the students indicated a needlestick injury at the beginning of this period, half of the students (50.9%) had experienced at least one injury at the end of the clinical period. The activities mentioned most frequently were taking of blood samples and injections. Needlestick injuries happened most frequently in surgical units, in internal medicine, and in gynaecology. Accidents happened mostly during secondary employment, medical traineeship, or in the context of practical nursing. In consequence, measures for improvement of the primary prevention should start with training on the one hand: Only briefing seems to be insufficient - intensive exercises in using stick-proof instruments seems to be more promising. On the other hand, the comprehensive introduction of stick-proof instruments has to be supported.

[Abortion from the Catholic perspective]. / Abtreibung aus katholischer Perspektive.

The embryo possesses the right to life. Therefore abortion is an forbidden act of killing. There is no sufficient reason to justify it. Especially the burden of pregnancy in situations of social conflicts and change of carriere-plans cannot justify abortion. Also there can be no demand of conscience to legitimate an abortion. The Catholic Church itself offers support for women in conflict situations. The Church condemns abortion, not the person, who needs a special attention in such a situation.

[Artificial insemination from a Catholic viewpoint]. / Künstliche Befruchtung aus katholischer Sicht.

The Roman Catholic Church understands the human propagation as a common act of body and soul, which should not be destroyed either by contraception or artificial insemination. This thesis is based on the natural order and meaning of the unity of man and woman. Within its demands on the state, the church differentiates between artificial insemination of married persons and others.