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."
I think it is morally permissible to use gene therapy in order to prevent an embryo or future baby from obtaining debilitating illnesses that will either take their life at a young age or make their life unnecessarily difficult. I definitely take a utilitarian standpoint on this because I know I would never want my child to have to endure a terrible disease that will greatly reduce their quality of life. I know that if I could prevent my child's chances of suffering from a disease that I would. I Believe that it is moral to not want a child to suffer.
ReplyDeletei agree with the fact that no child should ever have to suffer. I think that gene therapies are not okay to use on embryos, and try to prevent an easier life style. i would also say that i look at this from a utilitarian perspective.
DeleteAmanda, I also would never wish for my child, or any child, to suffer from a disease or deformity. However, I believe in God's will, and I think that healthcare should only intervene up to a certain point with the outcomes of lives. I think there are several areas of healthcare that are completely permissible from an ethics standpoint, such as emergency medicine and palliative care. But I do not think that altering the genetics of an embryo is ethical. While this might eliminate certain diseases from our society over time, I see it as health care workers/geneticists trying to play God. This issue is very tough, and raises concerns in many areas. I have been fighting with myself on what I believe, but I have decided that gene therapy is a sensitive and individual subject. Motive and possible consequences are everything. I see this case: altering a person's outcome before they enter the world, as a morally impermissible action.
DeleteIn my opinion, i think that gene therapy is okay when used for the correct purposes, such as to prevent suffering after the child has already come into the world. Once the therapy has been abused in the way that you are trying to change i guess the child's destiny, by trying to prevent an illness in an embryo.
ReplyDeleteI believe that as long as there is crippling disease that could be potentially avoided then it should be an option. In my opinion it only goes that far.. meaning it cannot be used for choosing basic qualities as a means of fulfilling some specific type of child. If there is a genetic disease passed through the genetics of the parents which would be crippling It was be immoral to passively allow the transfer of that disease to a child. Everyone is about preventative medicine well this could be the epitome of that word.
ReplyDeleteYes! I agree that in the case of preventing genetic disorders this is a completely moral therapy. If there is a medication or test that could prevent your child from suffering, then in most situations the parent would opt for the test or medication rather than seeing their child suffer. I wouldn't go as far as to say it is immoral to not get the testing done, but I do think that if the option is readily available, then it should be strongly recommended like vaccines are today.
DeleteI believe that Gene Therapy can be used in the right ways and in this case can be morally correct. God creates us the way we are supposed to be. It is hard to come to a opinion without wanting to use my religious background to say why I think the way that i do. I have very lucky that i don't have any genetic mutations and maybe that is why it is easier for me to have an opinion about this. I am still stuck somewhere in the middle of whether or not i am for or against it. i am not sure if i will ever have a answer for what I believe.
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ReplyDeleteI believe Gene Therapy, if used in the right ways, can be acceptable. Also like Emily, it is hard for me to form an opinion without using my religious beliefs and am stuck on whether I am for or against gene therapy, because in some cases I feel as there is nothing we should be doing about it and in others I believe that gene therapy could be effective. I'm all for preventing genetic disorders and diseases but I also find it hard because we can't be 100% sure that one of the therapies could create a new disorder or a new disease that can't be cured or fixed.
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