Eubios Journal of Asian and International Bioethics 7 (1997), 67.
- K.K. Verma, Ph.D.
Retd. Professor of Zoology
HIG I/327, Housing Board Colony,
Borsi, Durg, M.P., 491001, INDIA
Dr. Mukerjee's attempt, however suffered from two short-comings, viz. that he published his results in a "not so well known" journal, and that he yielded to the request of the parents, involved in the experiment, not to reveal their identity and also of the would be child to the world. In the absence of visible evidence the pioneer was accused of fraud, and his torment and despair led to his committing suicide in 1981. Thus the career of the pioneer, who could contribute a lot to scientific progress, was prematurely terminated.
Why did the parents object to revealing their identity? Perhaps because they felt that they would suffer from a social stigma. But why the stigma? Was the society likely to confuse IVF with an extra marital affair? If the society were bioethically educated, it should not have been difficult to realize that IVF technique was only scientifically aided procreation by a married couple. The case underlines the need of bioethical education of the public, and points to the situation that absence of such education could be a real impediment in the progress of science.
- Frank J. Leavitt, Ph.D.
The Jakobovits Centre of Jewish Medical
Ethics
Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion
University of the Negev,
Beer Sheva, ISRAEL (Home Tel/FAX: +972-2-9963048)
(Email: yeruham@bgumail.bgu.ac.il)
It is new to me but not surprising that IVF, as Verma reports, was performed in India as early as 1978. India may sometimes appear to be a poor country but it isn't. It's very rich, very powerful and as capable as anyone else of leading the world in biomedical technology.
Some troubling points arise from Verma's letter. The fact that human IVF has been around so long should remind us that the new world which biomedical technology is creating is not something which anyone can stop. Nor will bioethicists' pronouncements control it very much. The eternal connection of sex with the creation of human beings will no longer be a necessary truth. And there will also be germ-line therapy and enhancement genetics and all the other things bioethicists worry about. I think bioethics has to face the fact that these changes will be our reality. The job of bioethics is to teach us how to live meaningfully and ethically in this strange new world.
And this brings me to my second point. Some people think there is a contradiction between religion and science. But I think that spirituality, especially deep inner calmness and faith, immovable in spite of what happens in our material lives, is of greatest importance in a chaotically changing universe. Our careers and academic reputations seem important. But are they really all that important? If we stopped taking ourselves so seriously would there be any reason to commit scientific fraud or so much readiness to accuse others of it? And should unjust accusations be sufficient to lead one to torment, despair and suicide?
I think bioethics should teach about health, love, the disinterested pursuit of truth, friends, family, nature, simple pleasures. If we have the simple good things then what does it matter if we are not world-famous scientists and intellectuals? If bioethics can teach more simplicity then perhaps there will be fewer suicides in the new world of high biotech.