Genetic Therapies ok? (Exam Q)

When, if ever, is it morally permissible to use genetic therapies?  

*new & related* Chinese Scientists Edit Genes of Human Embryos, Raising Concerns - NYTimes.com

"With gene editing, the cutting and pasting has to start immediately, in a fertilized egg, before it is possible to know if an embryo has the Huntington’s gene. That means half the embryos that were edited would have been normal — their DNA would have been forever altered for no reason."

"Dr. Daley notes that when cloning techniques were developed, there was an international consensus that it would be unacceptable to clone a human being. Nonetheless, some researchers tried. He worries that something similar will happen with gene editing."

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/04/24/health/chinese-scientists-edit-genes-of-human-embryos-raising-concerns.html?referrer=

 

Obligations to the dying? (Exam Q)

What are our obligations to the dying?  What are health care professionals' obligations?

HC as a right? (Exam Q)

Kai Nielsen writes:  “If there is the need for some particular regime of care and the society has the resources to meet that need, without undermining structures protecting other at least equally urgent needs, then, ceteris parabus, the society if it is a decent society, must do so” (p. 652).  Do you agree with Nielsen?  Does his argument apply to the U.S.?  Explain.  Can a just society refuse to provide health care to all of its citizens?  Is health care a right, and if so, what kind?  For whom is it a right (citizens, military, the elderly, children, all, none?). 

Ideal HC system (Exam Q)

What does your ideal health care system look like? (Briefly sketch it out—what kinds of services should it provide?  Who is covered?  How is it paid for?). 

Health (Exam Q)

How do you define health?

Case 10: Pain relief & cultural beliefs

Collectively, discuss case 10.  Whomever posts first can answer one of the questions, the next person the next question, and so on.  Once the questions have been addressed, please (gently) critique them.  Make your original post, then follow up on at least 1 of your classmates' posts.

Diving Bell & the Butterfly

More info on the film

• http://www.thedivingbellandthebutterfly-themovie.com/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Diving_Bell_and_the_Butterfly
• http://www.salon.com/2008/02/23/diving_bell_2/

What questions do you have?  What was your favorite scene?  What "lessons" do you take away from the film? What surprised you? What made you sad?  Make an original post, then come back and comment on 1 of your classmates' posts.