The Unrelenting Pressure of the Pure Sciences on the Field of Medicine

Abstract

Definition: The previously distinct and parallel lines of progression in biotechnological disciplines such as stem cells, cloning, genetic engineering, nanomedicine and CRISPR CAS9 are now rapidly trending towards interconnection and achieving an holistic goal.

Therapeutic benefits: Society can anticipate that the following ethically neutral benefits will flow from convergence viz enhanced pain management, slowing of the aging process, replacing of diseased and worn out organs. Challenges arising out of convergence will include the option for parents to create ‘designer babies’, synthetic genes, genetic interventions and augmented cognitive power.

Market for Performance Enhancement: The increased capacity arising out of the convergence of the technologies will extend to everything from restoring sight and hearing to manipulating genetic material resulting in enhancements which will be desirable to millions around the world. However these enhanced capacities will result in a challenge to existing ethical boundaries.

Control Measures: The current legal regulations and ethical guidelines lag far behind the new capacities which the converged technologies could deliver. It is thus submitted that convergences will demand a major overhaul of the above mentioned regulations and guidelines in order to safely integrate the emerging and enhanced medical technologies into mainstream medical treatment.

This paper will explore some of the new technologies and their potential legal ethical demands.