2. Lecture objectives
• The specificity of the moral problems of medical
genetics.
Ethical principles of gene diagnostics and genetic
therapy and engineering.
• The moral aspects of genetic methods identification.
• Positive and negative eugenics.
3. GENETICS TECHNOLOGY
• The human genome has been determind.
• Defects in the genes can produce defects or deficiencies in
the gene products leading to diseases or disorders.
• Genetics technology is used for detecting abnormalities in
the foetus, newborn and infant.
• Counselling of couples and parents can reduce genetic
abnormalities.
• Gene replacement is possible to effect cure.
4. General ethical principles in medical genetics
• Genetic assistance should be available to everyone
and first queue needy.
• All types of genetic assistance should be voluntary.
• Clinically important information about the health of
a person or fetus should be fully disclosed to the
patient.
• Must be the confidentiality of the genetic
information.
5. General ethical principles in medical genetics
• Genetic information should be protected from third
stakeholders (employers, insurance agents, schools).
• Perinatal diagnostic should only be carried out
according to fetal health indications for detection of
genetic diseases and malformations.
• The choice of method for genetic testing should
carried out on a voluntary basis.
6. ETHICAL ISSUES
•Proper regulated conduct of the diagnostic
procedures, with competens.
•Maintenance of all records.
•Need for free. Informed consent for the procedures.
•Prevention of sex determination, discrimination and
selective abortion of the female foetus.
7. EUGENICS
Eugenics from Greek means «well-born».
There is often a desire to improve human heredity by
• selecting and increasing the beneficial qualities, and
• removing or reducing harmful ones.
Eugenics the doctrine of prevention of possible deterioration
of human hereditary qualities, about the conditions and
methods of influence on the improvement of these qualities
in the future.
8. EUGENICS
Most scholars believe that the concept of “eugenics”
is incompatible with the scientific worldview.
Others recognize eugenics, but see its reactionary
essence in the theory of inferiority of individual races,
peoples and social groups (racial theory).
Still others believe that reasonable means of eugenics
should be used rationally.
9. EUGENICS
Eugenics can be positive or negative:
Positive eugenics deals with the development of a
new person, through the selection of genotypes from
persons possessing exceptional physical and mental
qualities.
Positive eugenics makes use of a selection process of
gifted persons for improving the human gene pool.
10. EUGENICS
Negative eugenics deals with the study of inheritable
diseases and deficiencies.
By genetic engineering and counselling of couples,
eugenisists try to reduce the likelihood of the
development of inheritable diseases.
Methods - by using abortion, contraceptives,
sterilization, castration.
11. ETHICAL ISSUES OF EUGENICS
The objective of eugenics is to produce an ideal
person.
At present, we do not have the knowledge to decide
what all will contribute to the making of the ideal
person.
It is unethical to genetically attempt to modify the
human person.
12. ETHICAL ISSUES OF EUGENICS
•Our knowledge of genetics is limited.
•Manipulation with nature might bring on genetic
catastrophe for the human rase.
• Human characteristics depend on genetic and
environmental factors. Reliance only on genetic
factors can be disastrous.
13. ETHICAL ISSUES OF EUGENICS
•Positive eugenics is often resorted to by people (and
countries, e.g. Nazi Germany) with racist ideologies.
• Positive eugenics produces distorted views of
human being,s value.
•Emphasis is placed on the physical and intellectual
qualities leaving out the social and spiritual aspects.
14. Reference:
1) Ethical issues in Genetics and Genomics are Governed by
- Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights, UNESCO 1997
- International Declaration on Human Genetic Data, UNESCO 2003
http://www.unesco.org/ibc
- WHO’s International Guidelines on Ethical Issues in Medical Genetics
http://www.who.int/genomics/elsi/resources
- Nuffield Council on Bioethics http://www.nuffieldbioethics.org/geneticscreening
2) C.M.Francis, Medical Ethics, New Delhi (166-178).
Video:
- «Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of Genetic Knowledge», «A Brief Discussion
on The Ethics of Human Engineering», «DNA Project - Ethical Issues», «Ethics of
eugenics», «Pros and Cons of Eugenics» (Utube)
