Today at work I was handed an article to read from the Science and Technology section of Nature Reviews:
Human dignity: a guide to policy making in the biotechnology era? by Timothy Caulfiend and Roger Brownsword. Here's a short exerpt:
The concept of human dignity has emerged as a key point of reference for the regulation of modern science and technology, as evidenced by its use in recent policy debates on human genetics, human embroyonic stem cell research, and human cloning(1-3). But despite its frequent use, a practical definition of human dignity remains elusive(4). Most would agree that the concept is closely related to the intrinsic worth of all humans - an idea enshrined in the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights, which acknowledges the "inherent dignity" and "equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family." In this reading, human dignity is an engine of individual empowerment, reinforcing individual autonomy and the right to self-determination(5).
However, beyond statements such as the one in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there seems to be little clarity about the concept of human dignity. Indeed, it is increasingly used as a rationale for a wide variety of policy positions. For example, President George W. Bush has used it as a justfication for a range of biomedical policies, including a ban on human cloning and embryonic stem cell research (6). However, for some, respect for human dignity (as the underpinning of human rights) points in exactly the opposite direction. This confusion has led one commentator to assert that "[d]ignity is a useless concept in medical ethics and can be eliminated without any loss of context." (7) Others have argued that its inappropriate use can be an oppressive force, silencing open debate (8).
I just thought this subject matter was fascinating and wondered what you all thought. I'm really curious, not only when it relates to medicine, but science in general or for that matter, just human rights or human dignity in general. -----thoughts?-----
Sherry
now, for those that want the resources, here they are:
1) Fukuyama, F. Our Posthuman Future (Profile Books, NY, 2002).;
2) The President's Council on Bioethics. Human cloning and human dignity : an ethical inquiry. The President's Council on Bioethics website www.bioethics.gov/reports/cloningreport/fullreport.html (2002);
3) Caulfield, T. Human cloning laws, human dignity and the poverty of the policy making dialogue. BMC Med Ethics 4.e3 (2003).;
4) Verspieren, P. in the Discourse of Human Dignity (eds Ammicht-Quinn. R et al) 13-22 (SCM Press, London 2003);
5) Brownsord, R. in Human Rights (ed. Brownsword, R) 203-234 (Hart, Oxford, 2004).;
6) Bush, G.W. President Bush calls on Senate to back human cloning ban; remarks by the President on human cloning legislation. The White House website www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/04/20020410-4.html (2002).;
7) Macklin, R. Dignity is a useless concept. Br Med J 327, 1419-1420 (2003).;
8) Caulfield, T & Chapman, A Human Dignity as a criterion for science policy. PLoS Med 2. e244 (2005).