bio-ethics.pdf

Bio Ethics Bio Ethics  What is Bio-Ethics? The study of the ethical and moral implications of new biological discoveries and biomedical advances, as in the fields of genetic engineering and drug research Stem Cells & Cloning 3/23/05 ...

Bio Ethics Bio Ethics  What is Bio-Ethics? The study of the ethical and moral implications of new biological discoveries and biomedical advances, as in the fields of genetic engineering and drug research Stem Cells & Cloning 3/23/05  What is “Bioethics”? Bioethics: “a field of study concerned with the ethics and philosophical implications of certain biological and medical procedures, technologies, and treatments, such as organ transplants, genetic engineering, and care of the terminally ill” Stem Cells & Cloning 3/23/05  A classic bioethical decision One heart available  who should get it? 40-year-old 70-year-old 17-year old girl woman school principal Stem Cells & Cloning 3/23/05  Basic Bioethics Principles RESPECT for people’s rights – Autonomy – Dignity BENEFICENCE: Benefits must be proportionate to risks – Potential harm = potential good Stem Cells & Cloning 3/23/05  Basic Bioethics Principles JUSTICE: The even distribution of benefits and risks throughout society NONMALEFICENCE: Do no harm – Experiment must stop if causes harm. Stem Cells & Cloning 3/23/05  Decision-making organizations 1- Internal Review Boards (IRB’s) 2- President’s Council on Bioethics 3- Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee: Stem Cells & Cloning 3/23/05  Some recent stem cell policy… President Bush Policy : – August 2001: The executive order applied only to federally-funded research President’s Council on Bioethics “Human Cloning and Human Dignity Stem Cells & Cloning 3/23/05 What diseases do we do stem cell research on first? Muscular dystrophy likely to die by age 20 VS. Spinal cord injuries paralyzed, but likely to live longer Stem Cells & Cloning 3/23/05 What diseases do we do stem cell research on first? Independent Citizen’s Oversight Committee (ICOC) includes: – Spinal cord injuries about 35,000 cases in CA – Alzheimer’s disease about 470,000 cases in CA – Type II (adult) diabetes 10% of adults (20 and up) have it – Multiple sclerosis in NorCal, 150 in 100,000 people have it – Type I (juvenile) diabetes 1 in every 400-600 children/adolescents – Heart disease #1 cause of death in US (12% of adults) – Cancer #2 cause of death in US (7.4% of adults) – Parkinson’s disease about 500,000 cases in US – Mental illness 22% of Americans have mental disorders – HIV/AIDS about 1 million cases of HIV in US Stem Cells & Cloning 3/23/05  Common concerns in funding decisions Number of people with the disease. The groups that suffer from the disease. Severity of the disease. Disease mortality. Average age at death. Already available therapies or treatments. Stem Cells & Cloning 3/23/05  Current Bioethical Issues  Stem cells (state, national, international)  Genetically Engineered Organisms  Knowing your genes  fertilization – choosing your child's genes and characteristics  Environmental health Stem Cells & Cloning 3/23/05  Ethics and Science 1973 – Roe V. Wade Unrestricted access to abortion 1978- First Test Tube ever born 80’s - Recombinant microorganism could be patented, lead is harmful to developing brain 90’s - molecular biology, sequencing of human genome (other species), Jurassic Park 1996- Dolly the sheep is the first Mammal ever cloned 00’s - US stem cell research restricted 2003- Human Genome project complete ? - Human cloned? Stem Cells & Cloning 3/23/05  Human Clones? Are there human clones? Yes – Identical Twins (Time 2.19.01) Stem Cells & Cloning 3/23/05 IVF – In Vitro Fertilization  Baby conceived in a test tube and implanted in a Uterus  Available since 1986  About 100,000 IVF kids in U.S.  Often creates extra embryos some would like to use for Stem Cell research.  U.S. - About 400,000 frozen embryos (unregulated)  England – 52,000 (regulated by government) Stem Cells & Cloning 3/23/05  Select this paragraph to edit THANK YOU Stem Cells & Cloning 3/23/05