Ethical Dilemmas in Life Sciences

Author: Liu Xueli
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-11-01
Features: "Dolly the Sheep," "clone," "genome," "organ transplantation" – Are they yes or no? Are the benefits greater than the drawbacks? Once upon a time, these technical terms sparked a series of fervent debates across the globe, from the highest authorities to ordinary people. To this day, the debates have not only not subsided but have even escalated. History has shown that any scientific and technological advancement is a double-edged sword. While people celebrate the great achievements of life sciences, the series of ethical, legal, and social issues they bring also cause concern and even bewilderment. Behind the lively debates, we see the sharp edge of this double-edged sword of science and technology. Looking around, how many unresolved dilemmas in life sciences are there besides the ones mentioned above? Such topics as birth control, artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, gene therapy, genetically modified foods, and even biological experiments or the topic of euthanasia—whether new or old—all involve unexpected ethical challenges. The progress of life sciences brings both joy and worry. Faced with these confusions, what should humanity do? This book attempts to comprehensively evaluate the top ten emerging ethical issues in the field of life sciences from the perspectives of science, society, and ethics.