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ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLES |
Genetics Between Ethics And Politics: Taking Peoples’ Concerns Seriously
Gerhold K. BECKER, MDa
aFounding Director of the Centre for Applied Ethics and Chair Professor of Religion and Philosophy (retired), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, CHINA
In recent years, research in medical genetics and biotechnology has made enormous progress and raised tremendous expectations. Yet it may fall victim of its own success. The prospect of curing otherwise incurable diseases and improving the genetic make-up of human beings contrasts sharply with the implications of the genetification of medicine for healthcare and society in general. The paper addresses some of the concerns associated with modern genetics and its applications, particularly as they relate to genetic testing. It argues for a broad-based moral discourse that must involve all relevant stakeholders so as to seek consensus on how genetics should be regulated without jeopardizing its potential benefits.Keywords: Genetics, genetification of medicine, genetic testing, biotechnology, ethics, moral discourse, transparency, public consultation, regulationTurkiye Klinikleri J Med Ethics 2006, 14:1-8
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