Issues |
BioMedical EthicsEver since the HGP (Human Genome Project) started; stem cell research, cloning, and genetics boomed. The recent studies and discoveries have men called biomedics, and some have douted the ir privacy and other ethical rights. This has led to contreversy about biomedical ethics, or bioethics. Bioethics is related to a lot of fairly new stuff, like our debate on using stem cells and clones, mostly for the health of a person in need of organ implants. it also debates with cloning and touches abortion and euthusia, but those two are mostly unrelated.
Genetic Screening/TherapyGenetic screening is now an option since the 1960s, it can test for a number of otherwise deadly diseases and now can be treated. There are several ways to test, the ones without any objections being DNA testing and carrier screening. Carrier screens screens adults to see of they are the carrier of any diseases. Fetal screening, the screening of embryos, however causes a lot of objections. some people see this as a way to prepare themselves towards a disease or disability, while others see this as a way to abuse the embryo and/or birth control. It is not the screening itself, but what happens after the screening. What people do with the data can be quite frightening to some.
Stem Cell ResearchStem cells can grow into any other cells, making them the most malleable and potential cells. This covers the shortage of donor organs, as any needed organs can be grown. The problem arises on where to get the cells themselves. The stem cells can be found in 4-5 day embryos, but harvesting the cells would destroy the embryo. Another way would be creating another embryo from the DNA of a patient. The last way is to find stem cells from the patient and to harvest a few and clone them. This has many pros, as opposed to actually transplanting an organ from a donor. it is also faster and will cost less. The main controversy is where you get the stem cells themselves, and if harvested from an embryo, would it be considered killing.
Comprimisingboth people who are for and oppose stem cell research often promote using adult stem cells, and it can be considered an ethical alternative, or compromise. This does not harm any embryo and the patient's body will not reject the new organ, as it will think the new one is the same as the old one. this is cheaper, and does not have any problems with either group. The stem cells can be found in the patient's body, as there are stem cells lying dormant in the body waiting for need to repair or build parts of the body. These stem cells can be used for bone marrow, hear muscles, pancreatic islet cells, or nerve cells.
CloningThe debate about cloning is mainly about the reproductive cloning of humans. There are two types of cloning: reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning. Therapeutic cloning uses cells to clone an organ, and there is no debates there. Reproductive cloning, on the other hand, uses the donor's DNA to clone another version of the donor. It is like having identical twins born several years apart. There are little debate on cloning animals, but the problem arises with cloning humans. There are many problems with reproductive cloning itself, and even more with cloning humans. The problem are not only unethical, but there are also technical and scientific problems. It is one of the most controversial subjects.
ProblemsAs shown by Dolly the sheep, the first clone, cloning can have many problems. Dolly had arthritis and died shortly afterwards. They cloned Dolly from an adult sheep, thus causing the embryo's bones to try to catch up with its adult's counterparts and the bones became brittle. The result of cloning any living thing will result in many defects. Another thing is that the clone will turn out looking different from its original. That is because the environment also has an effect on DNA. Two examples of this are the cats "cc" and "rainbow". Both cats looked different from their original. Carbon Copy ("cc") had white fur while the original had brown fur. Rainbow was named that because of its rainbow fur. The clone will have many defects, resulting in major organ failure and in some cases, instant death. There are also ethical problems, both environmental and personal. The clone will show a number of psychological defects and will have a lock of creativity and other subjects. Those around it will reject it, and so on. Saying that is is psychologically, socially, and morally damaging to the clone and the cloned.
Nursing Ethical Dilemma: Ethical Rights and Responsibilities in BioEthicsBiomedical ethics is a sensitive subject that up to this time is still under heated scrutiny. The primary nursing responsibility is genetic counseling especially among parents with genetic diseases. Physicians and nurses are ethically obligated to provide prospective parents with the basis of an informed decision for childbearing avoiding the imposition of parent’s personal moral values and the substitution of their own moral judgment (Council of Ethical and Judicial Affairs, 1997).
Health care professionals are not to modify or replace genetic malformations unless therapeutically required. Changing or adding gene in an effort to “improve” complex human trait - the eugenic development of offspring – are contrary not only to the ethical tradition of medicine and nursing, but also to the egalitarian values of the society (Council of Ethical and Judicial Affairs, 1997). If genetic engineering is necessary, careful evaluation of the need should be examined and reviewed after failures of other available therapeutic options. Patients should be well-informed with the procedure voluntary and consent signed by the patient. Nurses should maintain confidentiality of testing and results. |