BIOMEDICALIZATION AND GENETIC ENHANCEMENT OF MAN  ‒ IN THE CONTEXT OF BIOETHICAL ANALYSIS  Cover Image

BIOMEDYKALIZACJA A GENETYCZNE UDOSKONALANIE CZŁOWIEKA W KONTEKŚCIE ANALIZ BIOETYCZNYCH
BIOMEDICALIZATION AND GENETIC ENHANCEMENT OF MAN ‒ IN THE CONTEXT OF BIOETHICAL ANALYSIS

Author(s): Marcin Leźnicki, Aleksandra Lewandowska
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
Keywords: biomedicalization; genetic enhancement; modern reproductive technologies; germline genetic modification.

Summary/Abstract: Biotechnologization of man, including genetic enhancements that will be discussed by the authors, is advertised by the scientists as offering a broad range of biomedical benefits; at the same time, however, it undoubtedly raises a number of ethical and legal problems. These include controversies over the necessity of carrying out such research, its direction and prognosis of the development of biotechnology and biomedical sciences. Moreover, the methods used in these sciences and a control over them seem to be controversial. Doubts surrounding the necessity and moral as well as legal consequences of potential biomedicalization of human life is best exemplified by numerous discussions that take place all over the world. Aware of the number of problems related to biomedicalization and of their complexity, the authors will initially focus on a more detailed analysis of biomedicalization at the early stage of human life and will then present the possibilities that genetic engineering offers even today, which might subsequently lead to genetic enhancements. The authors will finish by analysing from a bioethical standpoint moral dilemmas that might result from implementing such improvements.

  • Issue Year: 2013
  • Issue No: 45
  • Page Range: 113-129
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: Polish