Growth hormone therapy for Prader-Willi and Down syndromes: a post-modern medical dilemma.
Post-modernism means the end of traditional certainties. In this paper, growth hormone (GH) is conceptualized as a post-modern medical therapy. It is used in the treatment of conditions that are not traditional diseases, for indications that are not precisely defined. Down syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome represent two clinical conditions in which GH can possibly be used. It is argued that the difference between the two syndromes instructs us as to the principles that might guide appropriate use of GH in the future. In particular, for children, the more GH treatment can be shown to produce benefits other than increased height, the more justifiable its use will be.
Lantos
J D
JD
Maclean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Illinois 60637, USA. jlantos@peds.bsd.uchicago.edu
D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011218:Prader-Willi Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
D013006:Growth Hormone