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Science Creates Ethical Quandary The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 10/27/03 As humankind pushes up against the borders of medicine and technology, ethical issues loom larger. Even right here in Georgia, Georgia Tech engineers, Emory medical researchers and University of Georgia animal experts work together splicing genes, cloning and deriving drugs that seem miraculous. Leading edge research seems sure to produce as many issues as innovations. Beyond mending broken or weakened bodies, new medical science and technology may also be able to bolster body strength and performance, far beyond the scope of today's controversial performance-enhancing drugs. Suppose special gene injections can dramatically improve all youngsters in size, jumping ability, speed and physical coordination -- destroying record books and the integrity of games. Is that what we want? Around the corner could be technology not only to determine the sex of offspring but also to determine the difference in the physical capabilities of men and women. Is that the "level playing field" we desire? And, as if that were not profound enough, new medications and procedures ultimately may slow or reduce the painful disintegration of bodies and reduce the limitations of old age. Still others may go further, enhancing the physique and ultimately propelling us toward the "ageless body." Isn't that the eternal dream of perpetual youth? Wouldn't that rid us of that burden put so well by Shakespeare: "Is it not strange that desire should so many years outlive performance?" But is that what we really want -- biological and technical developments that reorder the human life cycle, forever changing relationships and society? It's something to ponder. These questions and more are examined, but not answered, in the Council on Bioethics report: "Beyond Therapy -- Biotechnology and the Pursuit of Happiness." (The full 328-page report, in pre-publication form, can be read at http://bioethics.gov/ ) Most of the players in the growing biotechnology field, including Georgia Tech, Emory and UGA, have ethics specialists. But clearly the new questions loom larger than most of us have previously imagined, touching on the nature of the society we envision for ourselves and our offspring. SOURCE: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 10/27/03 http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/1003/27bioethics.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn