Splicing life : a report on the social and ethical issues of genetic engineering with human beings / President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research.

  • President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research
Date:
1982
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Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: Splicing life : a report on the social and ethical issues of genetic engineering with human beings / President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research Suite 555, 2000 К Street. N.W., Washington, DC 20006 (202) 653-8051 November 16, 1982 The President The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: On behalf of the President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research, I am pleased to transmit Splicing Life, our Report on the social and ethical issues of genetic engineering with human beings. This study, v^iich was not within the Commission's legislative mandate, was prompted by a letter to your predecessor in July 1980 from Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant church associations. We embarked upon it, pursuant to § 1802(a)(2) of our statute, at the urging of the President's Science Advisor. Some people have suggested that developing the capability to splice human genes opens a Pandora's box, releasing mischief and harm far greater than the benefits for biomedical science. The Commission has not found this to be the case. The laboratory risks in this field have received careful attention from the scientific community and governmental bodies. The therapeutic applications now being planned are analogous to other forms of novel therapy and can be judged by general ethical standards and procedures, informed by an awareness of the particular risks and benefits that accompany each attempt at gene splicing. Other, still hypothetical uses of gene splicing in human beings hold the potential for great benefit, such as heretofore impossible forms of treatment, as well as raising fundamental new ethical concerns. The Commission believes that it would be wise to have engaged in careful prior thought about steps such as treatments that can lead to heritable changes in human beings or those intended to enhance human abilities rather than simply correct deficiencies caused by well-defined genetic disorders. In light of a detailed analysis of the ethical and social issues of this subject—issues beyond the purview of existing mechanisms for Federal oversight—the Commission suggests several possible means, in the private as well as the public sector, through which these important matters can receive the necessary advance consideration. The Commission is pleased to have had an opportunity to participate in the consideration of this issue of public concern and importance. Morris B. Abram Chairman
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