Medical-Ethical Scenarios (Future of Medicine)

So far in this "History of Medicine" unit, we have focused on the contributions other cultures and individuals have made. We know that advancements in medical science occurred at blinding speeds during the 20th century. As we advance further into the 21st century, some say the possibilities are limitless. However, we must recognize that with every advancement lies new ethical questions. What will medicine look like when you are working in the field in a few years? What ethical issues will you be faced with in your lifetime? Read and View the following scenarios. Determine how you would react to these ethical dilemmas created by (potential) advancements in science. 

Assignment:

• Complete the numbered, highlighted tasks below. All should be completed in one document. 
• Number each task in your final paper (to keep it organized)
• Cite all sources (5 points)
• Save the document like this- -  2012-09-13-MedicalEthics-YourLastName  (2 points)
• Send it to my email at: hammanga@gmail.com (2 points)

Mrs. Fister Can Replace Her Dying Son (or can she?)

Mrs. Fister is grieving. Just this morning, her family had been together, having breakfast. Then Mr. Fister and little Junior had gone out on a walk to the corner store. They never returned. On the way home, a car hit them. Mr. Fister was killed instantly. Her son lies in a coma at the hospital. The doctors say Junior's brain is dead. They have asked Mrs. Fister permission to remove his breathing tube and shut down the machines. 

Mrs. Fister cannot bear the thought of losing both her husband and her child. She cannot imagine what it will be like to no longer be a wife and mother. Mrs. Fister remembers reading an article about cloning. She wonders if it might be possible to clone Junior to make a new child just like him. She realizes the new baby would not be Junior, but it would be as close as she could get. Plus, it would be a way to keep her beloved husband's name alive, through the child of his own flesh and blood. She is thinking of keeping Junior on life support machines at least long enough to find a doctor who can help her clone a baby. (source: Your Genes Your Choice). 

1a. Do you think this cloning technology will become available some day? (Why or why not? (5 points)
1b. How far should we take cloning?  (5 points)
1c. Will it ever be ethically acceptable to clone an entire human being? (5 points)
Use other resources to help you develop your argument...make sure you cite those sources!

Dr. Lu's patients have the right to be tall (or do they?)

Dr. Lu has two patients with the same problem, but she isn't sure if she should treat them both. The patients, Tim and Rico, are seven-year old boys who are very short for their age. Tim will never grow much taller than five feet because his body does not produce enough of a hormone needed to grow. When he is an adult, Tim will be much shorter than his mother and father, who are both closer to six feet tall. Rico will never grow much taller than five feet either. Rico will be short because he has inherited his body build from his parents, who are both about five feet tall. 

Researchers have used genetic engineering to produce a growth hormone. Both sets of parents want this growth hormone to be prescribed for their sons to help them grow taller. They want this because they feel there are many advantages to being tall. 

Dr. Lu realizes that genes play a role in the height each child will reach. Tim will be short because of a single mutation in one gene that instructs for the production of a growth hormone. Rico will be short due to the many genes he inherited from two short parents. Despite this difference, the end result for both boys will be the same. Dr. Lu is thinking about prescribing the hormone for Tim, but not for Rico. However, she wonders if she is being fair. if you were Dr. Lu, what would you do? (source: Your Genes Your Choice)

2a. As new technologies become available, how will we decide which patients deserve treatment? (4 points)
2b. What role will money (people that have money vs. people that don't) play in this potential ethical dilemma? (5 points)

3. What is your vision for the future of medicine? List and define at least 3 technologies or innovations that you envision for the future. (6 points)

4. What technological advances (list at least 2 and describe) will bring us the greatest ethical challenges? (6 points)

5. How do you think we should manage these dilemmas? (5 points)

TOTAL for this assignment: 50 points