The Bioethics Project
At Kent Place School
Author: Ariel Sykes
Author: Ariel Sykes
Chronic Depression and Assisted Suicide
Chronic Depression and Assisted Suicide: Who Deserves the Right to Die? By Alexa Kolakoski Table of Contents Introduction Factual Background Treatments Issues Surrounding Treatments Depression and Suicide Societal Perceptions: A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Belgium and the United States Fairness Personal Accounts Autonomy Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, and Compassion Conclusion Introduction “Death with dignity” is such a catch-phrase
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[Dis]Ability: A “Cure” for Down Syndrome
[Dis]Ability: A “Cure” for Down Syndrome By Keerthi Jayaraman Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have found a way to silence the chromosome that causes Down syndrome. By inserting a gene called XIST, (which is normally used to silence the second X chromosome in female mammals) scientists could silence the extra chromosome 21
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Potential Costs and Benefits of Pharmacogenomics
Precision vs. Trial & Error: Your Genome Can Potentially Save Your Life…But at What Cost? By Rebecca Del Rio When your father almost passes away, you start to think of all the what-if questions. What if the doctors made or make a mistake? What if his medication is too strong or not potent enough? What
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Human Genome Editing for Cognitive Ability
The Eugenics of Intelligence: The Promise and Perils of Human Genome Editing for Cognitive Ability By Isabella Racioppi The advancement of technology in the field of genetic engineering may soon make it possible to alter DNA so precisely that human traits may be edited with a few simple alterations to the human genome. One aspect
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Savior Siblings and Autonomy
Who Really Needs Saving? The Ethics of Savior Siblings and Their Autonomy By Maddie Zietsman What decisions do we have the authority to make that will have an affect on others? How can we weigh the benefits and the consequences? What happens if we make the wrong decision? These are the types of questions that
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Gene Doping and Sports
Gene Doping: Challenging the Future of Sports By Gaby Branin If you were a professional or olympic athlete and you had the ability to become stronger, faster, and all around better by making a simple change to your DNA, would you? What if it is banned, but other athletes are still using it? This paper
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Unlocking and Unleashing All Genomes
Unlocking and Unleashing All Genomes: Is This Even Up to You? By Emma Littlejohn Imagine a world where your whole existence and what people viewed you as was entirely based on your genome. Even though, you did not ask to find out things such as your probability to obtain a certain disease in the future:
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Parental Responsibilities, Cultural Aspects, and Harm of Choosing The “Flawed” Embryo
I Want a Deaf Child: Parental Responsibilities, Cultural Aspects, and Harm of Choosing The “Flawed” Embryo By Anna Hogarth When you hear the saying, “like father like son” or, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” you may think, the child is like their parents. But what about when parents want to select a
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A Smarter World: How Far Will We Go?
A Smarter World: How Far Will We Go? By Sophia Sinins Our imperfections and struggles are commonly held to make life more meaningful; but why would we insist on passing down flaws that result in marked disadvantages to others, especially if the power to control them were just at our fingertips? The possibility of using
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An Exploration of Achondroplasia Through a Surgical Lens
“Treatment” of an Identity: An Exploration of Achondroplasia Through a Surgical Lens By Elynn Chang Table of Contents Introduction Identity Achondroplasia Stakeholders Values Conclusion Introduction With a limb-lengthening treatment brochure in your hand, sitting alone in the doctor’s office you stand up and you look at yourself in the mirror. You repeatedly ask yourself, “Why
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