Michael Cook
Editor
BioEdge
Editor
BioEdge
Hi there,
I just came across an opinion piece in New Scientist by one of its feature editors, Michael Le Page. It's not the sort of opinion that surfaced in the media before Parliament passed the "three-parent baby" law earlier this month.
Mr Le Page says candidly that the law allows genetic engineering. "The decision to allow three-parent babies is right. But the fact is, opponents were also right to describe this as a step towards tinkering with the rest of our genome."
He goes on to argue that most scientists concealed their true opinions on the matter out of "political expedience". "I suspect many biologists harbour similar views, but not many say so openly. Instead, they back three-parent babies but say it isn't really genetic engineering."
I wonder if Mr Le Page understands the seriousness of the allegation he makes here. He is saying that the scientists involved in selling the idea of "three parent babies" lied to the public -- even though this was clearly of the most ethically challenging bioethical issues ever debated in Parliament.
The last time I checked, lying was deeply immoral. Perhaps there are exceptions, though, if scientists need to lie to people who are troublesome and stupid. Then it's probably OK.
The problem with lying, though, is that one quickly acquires the habit of deceit and manipulation. Then it becomes harder and harder to trust anything the liar says.
I do hope that Mr Le Page is wrong about this. What do you think?
by Xavier Symons | Feb 21, 2015
Around one in three Dutch doctors would be prepared to help someone with a psychological illness die, says a new JME study.by Michael Cook | Feb 21, 2015
The assisted suicide of American woman Brittany Maynard last year may have tipped Colombia into legalising euthanasia.by Michael Cook | Feb 21, 2015
Two New Zealand academics have proposed that surrogacy become a profession like nursing or teaching which is fully integrated into the health system.by Michael Cook | Feb 21, 2015
A legally-married lesbian couple in New Jersey are fighting requests for visitation rights from their two children's biological fathers.by Michael Cook | Feb 21, 2015
One of the world's leading stem cell scientists has entered a partnership with the disgraced Korean researcher Hwang Woo-suk.by Xavier Symons | Feb 21, 2015
How do our rescue intuitions apply to clinical practice, questions an ethicist in this month's edition of AJOB.BioEdge
Suite 12A, Level 2 | 5 George St | North Strathfield NSW 2137 | Australia
Phone: +61 2 8005 8605
Mobile: 0422-691-615
Email: michael@bioedge.org
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario