ETHICAL
While
the revolution and research in genetics and biomedical
research has brought about a lot of exciting possibilities
as well as great advances and discoveries, it has
also raised many ethical issues, many of which are
highly controversial. In fact, the need to look into
the ethics has given rise to a whole new study into
what is known as Bioethics
Many
ethical issues arise. Should research institutes profit
from our DNA? Should patients be tested for untreatable
conditions? How private is a person's genetic information?
These issues involve researchers, lawyers, pharmaceutical
companies, religious groups and even the man in the
street.
In
Singapore, Bio-ethics expert Professor Tan Siang Yong
said there were no ready answers. The Bioethics Advisory
Committee was recently formed to develop recommendations
on the legal, ethical and social is sues of human-biology
research. He said: "We have to be serious about
getting informed consent from research subjects, and
respecting their privacy and confidentiality. He said
ultimately regulation could not stop a scientist intent
on unethical research. "You can only hope that
along the way, he has learnt right from wrong."
One
of the most controversial issues in recent times concerns
the ethics of cloning. The successful cloning of an
adult sheep has raised the possibility that very soon,
humans can be cloned perfectly. This has very widespread
implications. Who can be cloned and who cannot be
cloned? How many can we clone? Are we going to have
an army of Lee Kuan Yews? In creating clones, many
unsuccessful tries are needed before a successful
clone is obtained. What would happen to these unsuccessful
tries? Is that ethical?
A
child might be constantly compared to the adult from
whom he was cloned, and thereby burdened with oppressive
expectations. Even worse, the parents might actually
limit the child's opportunities for growth and development:
a child cloned from a basketball player, for instance,
might be denied any educational opportunities that
were not in line with a career in basketball. Finally,
regardless of his parents' conduct or attitudes, a
child might be burdened by the thought that he is
a copy and not an "original." The child's
sense of self-worth or individuality or dignity, so
some have argued, would thus be difficult to sustain.
Because
of these issues, many are against cloning. In Feb
2001, Japan's premier took a stand against participation
in human-cloning projects. In August 2000, the Vatican
condemns cloning of human embryos for medical research
The
US House of Representatives has recently outlawed
all cloning of human embryos, including for medical
research, and threatened fines of more than US$1 million
(S$1.8 million) and 10-year prison terms for violators.
The move, backed by President George W. Bush, means
that US researchers may have to relinquish hope of
leading the world in this frontier of science.
Amid
a national controversy, the House voted 265:162 to
reject all human cloning - whether to create babies
or to produce stem cells for research into possible
cures for Alzheimer's and other diseases. Mr Bush
commended the House vote, saying that the overwhelming
and bipartisan action by legislators to ban human
cloning 'is a strong ethical statement... We must
advance the promise and cause of science, but must
do so in a way that honours and respects life'.
The
House decision is a significant step, but the issues
are far from settled. Overall, the House has agreed
broadly not to go down the path of cloning the human
species, which became a tantalising prospect after
Dolly the sheep was cloned in 1997.
But,
sharp disagreement persists in the chamber on whether
scientists should clone human embryos to try to develop
medical treatments, or draw stem cells from aborted
foetuses - or not touch this controversy at all.
Eugenics
is another controversial area. The word was coined
by Francis Gaston in 1883. It means to be well born.
Its aims are to "improve the human race hence
giving suitable races or strains f blood a better
chance of prevailing speedily over the less suitable".
Genetic engineering for such causes is controversial
because humans will want to create a "socially
desirable" race. This will cause discrimination
and inequality
In
Singapore, the government has setup the Bioethics
Advisory Committee to address these various issues.
Appointed in December 2000 by the Cabinet, the Bioethics
Advisory Committee (BAC) is a high-level committee
which examines the ethical, legal and social issues
in biomedical research in Singapore,. The BAC's guiding
principle is to protect the rights and welfare of
individuals while allowing Biomedical Sciences to
develop and realise its full potential in Singapore,
and for the benefit of mankind.
The BAC is chaired by Professor Lim Pin, former Vice-Chancellor
of National University of Singapore (NUS). It will
focus on the following:
·
Developing principles to govern the legal, ethical
and social implications of human biology research
and;
· Disseminating
information and promoting public understanding of
biomedical sciences and the related legal, ethical
and social issues.
The
committee comprises of 11 members drawn from a wide
range of backgrounds. These include legal and biomedical
experts, members of various ministries and the media.
The BAC will develop policy recommendations on bioethical
issues, and will put these up to the Ministerial Committee,
chaired by Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tony
Tan
The
BAC has formed sub-committees to address specific
issues, such as genetic testing, gene therapy and
embryonic stem cells research. Interested parties,
including the public, will be invited to share their
concerns and provide feedback
Setting
ethical recommendations for cloning and other genetic
research will pose a special challenge for Singapore
because of its multi-religious and multi-cultural
society. Religious groups will be consulted on the
matter, besides scientists and members of the public,
said the chairman of the new Bioethics Advisory Committee
(BAC) Lim Pin. 'We will have to move with caution
and understanding so our findings and recommendations
will be acceptable to society,' he added. He said
that the 11-member group, which includes experts in
diverse areas such as science, law and ethics - would
focus on two main areas.
