Walter Glannon explores several moral problems with genetic enhancement in his article “Genetic Enhancement,” published in Glannon’s book, From Genes and Future people: Philosophical Issues in Human Genetics (and later in Bioethics Principles, Issues, and Cases.) Glannon believes that “gene therapy is permissible if it is intended to ensure or restore normal functions, but it is morally illegitimate if it is aimed at enhancing functions beyond normal.” (577) Glannon, a professor of bioethics and philosophy at the University of Calgary, holds the Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Ethics and Ethical Theory at the University of Calgary in Alberta. He is well known for publishing 4 books and over 27 articles related to bioethics and philosophy.
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According to Glannon, gene therapy “is an intervention aimed at treating disease and restoring physical and mental functions and capacities to an adequate baseline.” Genetic enhancement “is an intervention aimed at improving functions and capacities that already are adequate.” (577) He believes that there are no medical or moral reasons for genetically enhancing normal human functions. Glannon observes that currently, the best example of a medically accepted form of genetic enhancement is immunization against infectious disease. He dismisses the idea that immunization against infectious disease is a form of genetic enhancement because the goal behind immunization is to prevent disease and for that reason the process of enhancement for immunization meets the definition of the goal of medicine. After examining medical procedures and how they may be valid gene therapy or invalid genetic enhancement, Glannon reasons examines the moral concerns of genetic enhancement. His first moral objection to genetic enhancement states that “enhancement would be unfair because only those who could afford the technology would have access to it.” He reasons that this would put those unable to afford the treatment at a socially competitive disadvantage. Without the treatment, individuals would fail to reach the new physical and mental standards set forth by genetic
According to Glannon, gene therapy “is an intervention aimed at treating disease and restoring physical and mental functions and capacities to an adequate baseline.” Genetic enhancement “is an intervention aimed at improving functions and capacities that already are adequate.” (577) He believes that there are no medical or moral reasons for genetically enhancing normal human functions. Glannon observes that currently, the best example of a medically accepted form of genetic enhancement is immunization against infectious disease. He dismisses the idea that immunization against infectious disease is a form of genetic enhancement because the goal behind immunization is to prevent disease and for that reason the process of enhancement for immunization meets the definition of the goal of medicine. After examining medical procedures and how they may be valid gene therapy or invalid genetic enhancement, Glannon reasons examines the moral concerns of genetic enhancement. His first moral objection to genetic enhancement states that “enhancement would be unfair because only those who could afford the technology would have access to it.” He reasons that this would put those unable to afford the treatment at a socially competitive disadvantage. Without the treatment, individuals would fail to reach the new physical and mental standards set forth by genetic