| CODE | MRT5280 | ||||||
| TITLE | Ethical Issues in Genetics | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Moral Theology | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The New Genetics has created considerable concern from issues of eugenics to whether families have a right to choose the perfect baby. Conversely the medical profession debate whether these objectives should be within their ethos. Clearly there are advantages to genetic engineering but the limits are unclear. Moreover, genetic screening of populations and testing of individuals can lead countries to base allocation of resources based on genetic choices. A clear example of this is the paradigm created by WHO towards screening for thalassaemia in Cyprus. Whilst Malta participates actively at European level in producing documents, there is still a gap in local legislation to cover research. Questions still abound, like who will handle the large amount of counselling when tests such as the Breast Cancer (BRCA), and Colon cancer test become readily available, and perhaps over-the-counter. Certainly there is a role for the primary care health care professionals, who are strategically placed and numerous enough. Nevertheless, the implications of these tests are still highly discussed. Families may be affected by genetic choices. This is a great controversial area and pragmatists have forwarded suggestions that parents should have a right to make choices for better genetic characteristics, as they would choose better schools etc. This of course created great controversy about the dignity and nature of man and indeed whether the human genome can be manipulated through this sort of selection. Whilst these debates are ongoing, European and other international organisations agree on general points and have published documents in this regard. Yet the debate goes on and certainly the future will see more advances in this important area. Learning Objectives By the end of the course the student should: a) have a clear knowledge of the potential use of genetic engineering technology and the ethical implications of somatic and germ line enhancement and cures. b) have an appreciation of the value, advantages and potential abuses of genetics screening and genetic tests. c) have a knowledge of the ethical considerations of genetic choices for parents and the involvement of primary care physicians. d) have a knowledge about genetic research in Europe e) have an appreciation of the various philosophical approaches to understand genetics. Reading List - BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, Human Genetics. Choice and Responsibility, Oxford, 1998 - BURLEY J & Harris J, A Companion to Genethics, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, 2004. - Council of Europe (CDBI) - EUROPEAN COMMISSION, 25 Recommendations on the ethical, legal and social implications of genetic testing, EC Science & Society, Brussels, 2004. - GOSDEN R, Designing Babies, W.H. Freeman, New York, 1999. - HARPER P & CLARKE A, Genetics Scoiety and Clinical Practice, Bios Scientific Publishers, London, 1997. - KEVLES D, In the Name of Eugenics, Harvard, 1985. - MCGEE G, The Perfect Baby. A Pragmatic Approach to Genetics, New York, London, 1997. - UNESCO, Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights, (Unesco Website) - WALTERS L & Palmer J, The Ethics of Human Gene Therapy, Oxford, 1997 |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Emmanuel Agius Bernice Azzopardi Meli Carlo Calleja Rosienne Farrugia Gillian M. Martin Nikolai Pace Robert Tanti Gabrielle Zammit Raymond Zammit |
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The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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