Moral and Ethical Issues in Gene Therapy
Moral and Ethical Issues in Gene Therapy
Introduction
Genetic research has advanced in a dramatic fashion in the last decade or so, to the point where it has now become possible to attempt therapeutic genetic modification, in a few cases of human genes, where a defects exists which manifests itself in certain serious diseases. This possibility, known as gene therapy, is only in its infancy. At present, no one knows how effective it will prove to be, even in the few conditions on which it is being tried - whether it will only be of relatively limited application, or whether it will open up many wider possibilities. It suffers both over-optimistic claims from some quarters and exaggerated dangers from others, over which the church needs to be discerning. It is, of course, not possible to assert exactly where the possibilities opened up by today’s technology will lead in terms of future developments, but various ethical and moral issues are implicit in the technology which it is important to draw to the Church’s attention, so that it is forearmed in an area where developments have been taking place at a bewildering pace. An editorial in the “New Scientist” in April 1994 drew attention to the need to weigh up what may still be future issues today, before the technological “horse” bolts from the stable and it is too late to lock the door.
Potential Ethical Issues
Perhaps the most basic underlying questions centre on a Christian understanding of the human being.
What does this tell us vis a vis our genetic and physical makeup?
What are therefore proper interventions into that genetic makeup?
What would be improper in terms of our human dignity?
More applied questions include :
The distinction between repairing genetic damage and any potential there might ever be to make genetic “improvements”
Our duties in respect to the rights and the suffering of future generations and to what extent we could intervene in the genome on their behalf
The dilemma that our
Introduction
Genetic research has advanced in a dramatic fashion in the last decade or so, to the point where it has now become possible to attempt therapeutic genetic modification, in a few cases of human genes, where a defects exists which manifests itself in certain serious diseases. This possibility, known as gene therapy, is only in its infancy. At present, no one knows how effective it will prove to be, even in the few conditions on which it is being tried - whether it will only be of relatively limited application, or whether it will open up many wider possibilities. It suffers both over-optimistic claims from some quarters and exaggerated dangers from others, over which the church needs to be discerning. It is, of course, not possible to assert exactly where the possibilities opened up by today’s technology will lead in terms of future developments, but various ethical and moral issues are implicit in the technology which it is important to draw to the Church’s attention, so that it is forearmed in an area where developments have been taking place at a bewildering pace. An editorial in the “New Scientist” in April 1994 drew attention to the need to weigh up what may still be future issues today, before the technological “horse” bolts from the stable and it is too late to lock the door.
Potential Ethical Issues
Perhaps the most basic underlying questions centre on a Christian understanding of the human being.
What does this tell us vis a vis our genetic and physical makeup?
What are therefore proper interventions into that genetic makeup?
What would be improper in terms of our human dignity?
More applied questions include :
The distinction between repairing genetic damage and any potential there might ever be to make genetic “improvements”
Our duties in respect to the rights and the suffering of future generations and to what extent we could intervene in the genome on their behalf
The dilemma that our