[Playing God? Critical consideration of biotechnology].
The ethics must do justice to the man who can freely decide and should pose to him the proper questions that can lead to a good choice. 'Playing God' is out of the question, because the biblical God has taken the enchantment out of the creation and produced man for him to shape and keep her. The zygote is already a human being in gestation. But not all stages of gestation of man have the right to the same reverence. The end justifies the means. Reason why this growing respect should be weighed against the use and meaning of the modifying action. The goal should be human in order to have a justifiable effect. Man is not determined by his genes but conditioned by them: they are pliable. Prenatal diagnostic tests and cloning should not be allowed to lead to the moulding of an 'Ubermensch'. It is indeed not yet technologically possible. Germination technology is justifiable provided that it is safely performed. DNA-profiling for identification of criminals is allowed. If only the profile and not the DNA were kept one could consider making a profile-bank. The patenting of discoveries should not stop developing countries from getting cheap medicines (e.g. for AIDS). Not everything that is possible is also allowed. Every time the reason and the benefit should be weighed against the damage and there must be a humane authority.
ter Schegget
G H
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Universiteit Leiden.
D000818:Animals; D026688:Bioethical Issues; D001675:Bioethics; D001709:Biotechnology; D003906:Developing Countries; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
Voor god spelen? Kritische beschouwingen over biotechnologie.