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Splicing Life: the Social and Ethical Issues of Genetic Engineering With United States. President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research. Splicing Life: A Report on the Social and Ethical Issues of Genetic Engineering with Human Beings. Washington, DC: President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research, 1982. 126 p. This document has been scanned and prepared for publication in Adobe Acrobat format by the staff of the National Information Resource on Ethics and Human Genetics, supported by grant P41 HG01115 from the National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health. National Information Resource on Ethics and Human Genetics The Joseph and Rose Kennedy Institute of Ethics Georgetown University Washington, DC 20057-1212 202-687-3885, 888-GEN-ETHX, FAX: 202-687-6770 http://bioethics.georgetown.edu/nirehg/ The Social and Splicing Ethical Issues of Life Genetic Engineering with Human Beings President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research Library of Congress card number 83-600500 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 Splicing Life A Report on the Social and Ethical Issues of Genetic Engineering with Human Beings November 1982 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 Morris B. Abram, M.A., J.D., LL.D.. Chairman, New York, N.Y. H. Thomas Ballantine, M.D., Daher B. Rahi, D.O. M.S., D.Sc. St. Clair Shores, Michigan Harvard Medical School Seymour Siegel, D.H.L. George R. Dunlop, M.D. Jewish Theological University of Massachusetts Seminary of America, New York Bruce K. Jacobson, M.D. Lynda Smith, B.S. Southwestern Medical School Colorado Springs, Colorado John J. Moran, B.S. Kay Toma, M.D. Houston, Texas Bell, California Arno G. Motulsky, M.D. Charles J. Walker, M.D. University of Washington Nashville, Tennessee Staff Alexander M. Capron, LL.B., Executive Director Deputy Director Administrative Officer Barbara Mishkin, M.A., J.D. Anne Wilburn Assistant Directors Editor Joanne Lynn, M.D., M.A. Linda Starke Alan Meisel, J.D. Support Staff Professional Staff Florence Chertok Mary Ann Baily, Ph.D. Gretchen Erhardt Allen Buchanan, Ph.D. Ruth Morris Andrew Burness, M.B.A. Clara Pittman Kathryn Kelly, M.S.W. Kevin Powers Susan Morgan Nancy Watson Marian Osterweis, Ph.D. Renie Schapiro, M.P.H. President’s Commission Commonwealth Fellows and Research Assistants Student Interns Michelle Leguay Susan Formaker (1982) Katherine Locke Jeffrey Katz (1981) Jeffrey Stryker Kenneth Kim (1982) Consultants Eddie Lockard (1982) Bradford H. Gray, Ph.D. Stephen Massey (1982) Tabitha M. Powledge, M.S. Lisa Rovin (1982) Dorothy Vawter Mindy Werner (1982) President’s Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research Suite 555, 2000 K 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, which 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. Respectfully, Norris B. Abram Chairman President’s Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research Suite 555, 2000 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006 (202) 653-8051 November 16, 1982 The Honorable George Bush President United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 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, which was not within the Commission's legislative mandate, was prompted by a letter to the President 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. Respectfully, Morris B. Abram Chairman President’s Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research Suite 555, 2000 K Street, N.W., Washington. DC 20006 (202) 653-8051 November 16, 1982 The Honorable Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Speaker United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Mr. Speaker: 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, which was not within the Commission's legislative mandate, was prompted by a letter to the President 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.
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