Motivation
In the last decades, medicine went through a series of rapid developments. Many techniques for diagnostic as well as for therapeutic purposes became available. Many existing ethical issues have become more complex and new issues have come up, e.g. in case of medical decisions concerning the end of life.
The possibility of fertilization ‘in vitro’ turned human life into an object of technical medical treatment and experimentation. Methods of prenatal screening and diagnoses are applied increasingly to a growing number of congenital disorders. In addition to the ethical issue of selective abortion this raises the question what that will mean for the willingness to care for people with a handicap.
Research is conducted on the possibilities of using foetal tissue and embryonic stem cells for treating diseases like Alzheimer, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes. The next step, already being investigated in some countries, is the use of so-called ‘therapeutic cloning’ involving the destruction of clone embryos in the treatment of patients. These techniques imply the instrumental use of human beings for treating other human beings. Meanwhile, the ethically acceptable use of adult stem cells and stem cells from foetal cord blood in the treatment of patients demonstrate promises preliminary results.
Genetic research, such as the human genome project, will enable us to screen genetic risks before as well as after birth. These data will be recorded in computers together with other medical data about patients. A lack of protection of these data may be to the disadvantage of certain groups of people in a number of social contexts like finding a job or seeking a life insurance.
Research on the possibilities to bring together nanotechnology, biotechnology (including genetic engineering), ICT, and cognitive sciences (the NBIC convergence) to develop new treatment possibilities is going on. But in addition to treating disorders the option of enhancement of human performance is being discussed. Various measures for cost containment in health care put the quality of care under pressure and have made the issue of patient selection more urgent than ever.
It should be added that medical ethics itself is also changing, making society pluralistic in this respect, too.
Although ethical views are varying widely, in general the attitude toward the value and protection of human life has been shifted in The Netherlands. This becomes clear as one only thinks of the acceptance by many in the Netherlands of euthanasia and induced abortion. Fortunately increased attention is given also to palliative care and the awareness of psychological problems of part of the women after abortion seems to increase also.
These issues call for thorough and ongoing reflection, in which the Prof.dr. G.A. Lindeboom Institute wants to engage from its own ethical and religious position.
The possibility of fertilization ‘in vitro’ turned human life into an object of technical medical treatment and experimentation. Methods of prenatal screening and diagnoses are applied increasingly to a growing number of congenital disorders. In addition to the ethical issue of selective abortion this raises the question what that will mean for the willingness to care for people with a handicap.
Research is conducted on the possibilities of using foetal tissue and embryonic stem cells for treating diseases like Alzheimer, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes. The next step, already being investigated in some countries, is the use of so-called ‘therapeutic cloning’ involving the destruction of clone embryos in the treatment of patients. These techniques imply the instrumental use of human beings for treating other human beings. Meanwhile, the ethically acceptable use of adult stem cells and stem cells from foetal cord blood in the treatment of patients demonstrate promises preliminary results.
Genetic research, such as the human genome project, will enable us to screen genetic risks before as well as after birth. These data will be recorded in computers together with other medical data about patients. A lack of protection of these data may be to the disadvantage of certain groups of people in a number of social contexts like finding a job or seeking a life insurance.
Research on the possibilities to bring together nanotechnology, biotechnology (including genetic engineering), ICT, and cognitive sciences (the NBIC convergence) to develop new treatment possibilities is going on. But in addition to treating disorders the option of enhancement of human performance is being discussed. Various measures for cost containment in health care put the quality of care under pressure and have made the issue of patient selection more urgent than ever.
It should be added that medical ethics itself is also changing, making society pluralistic in this respect, too.
Although ethical views are varying widely, in general the attitude toward the value and protection of human life has been shifted in The Netherlands. This becomes clear as one only thinks of the acceptance by many in the Netherlands of euthanasia and induced abortion. Fortunately increased attention is given also to palliative care and the awareness of psychological problems of part of the women after abortion seems to increase also.
These issues call for thorough and ongoing reflection, in which the Prof.dr. G.A. Lindeboom Institute wants to engage from its own ethical and religious position.
