by Grace Hsu Medicine, existing in human history for ages, has advanced greatly in the previous century and is currently still making breakthroughs at an amazing speed. In the 20th century, the discovery of various microorganisms along with the usage of X-ray and endoscopes, has led to considerable progress in understanding the human body and its mechanisms. From the usage of drugs to organ transplants or even genome editing in the future, it seems that medicine has become almighty as we enjoy the fruits of this sophisticated expertise. However, as the capability of medicine expands, we must bear in mind the hidden conflicts behind every new development.
Take antibiotics, for example. Antibiotics revolutionized medicine when they first debuted in the 20th century. These powerful drugs combat bacterial infections and were found effective in treating diseases such as tuberculosis and pneumonia. Since their discovery, antibiotics have been one of the most frequently prescribed medications in modern medicine. However, such potency and easy access has resulted in their overuse and led to the emergence of “superbugs,” also known as antibiotic resistant microorganisms. The WHO classified antibiotic resistance as “one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today.” It makes certain diseases harder to treat and cure, leading to additional medical costs and increased mortality. To what extent will antibiotic resistance affect humans? The Review of Antimicrobial Resistance, commissioned in 2014 by the UK Prime Minister, has indicated that approximately 700,000 lives were taken globally per year due to drug resistance in certain illnesses. It is also estimated that the loss to global GDP will be $100 trillion by 2050 if humans fail to address this issue. “The world urgently needs to change the way it prescribes and uses antibiotics,” states the WHO. Another issue waiting to be solved in medicine is surrogate mothers. Following the development of in vitro fertilization, which means to artificially fertilize the egg and sperm outside the human body, gestational surrogates were introduced to the world and enabled those who have problems with their uterus or homosexual couples to have children. Unlike adoption, this technique offered an alternative method for having a child of their own genes, which was viewed as a blessing for many families. However, surrogate mothers are not yet legalized all over the world. Some people state that it seems that the womb of women is just a tool for rent, neglecting the human rights of the surrogate mothers. In some places such as the United States, there are many well-organized surrogacy agencies with regulations protecting the baby and the surrogate mothers. But many couples opt for cheaper surrogate mothers in places such as India where the rights of surrogate mothers are neglected. Dubbed as the “surrogacy hub,” India is a well-known place that offers women’s wombs for rent. However, those who end up as surrogate mothers often come from families facing financial difficulties. The monetary offer for taking up this task is approximately thirty times more than a woman’s usual monthly earnings. However, to become a surrogate mother, the woman has to give up a lot. To begin with, she needs to live in a hostel under certain regulations made by the surrogate clinics. Family visits are allowed only once a month; often the mothers have very young children or even infants back home that they can’t care for until giving birth to the foreign child. In addition, there are no laws regulating whether the doctors should save the mother or the baby when facing a difficult delivery. And if the baby turns out to have some congenital disease, the mother may not be fully paid or even have to bring up the child herself. Nevertheless, the most common problem surrogate mothers face is that during the pregnancy, they feel that they have formed a bond with the baby. However, they have no rights to have anything to do with the baby, and are even prohibited to ask after its gender. Many surrogate mothers suffer from mild to moderate mental disorders or sleeping problems during the months following the delivery. They may never set eyes on the baby, but they shall never forget this life formed in their bodies. When this technique was first carried out, it seems to be an invaluable favor for many families. However, the problem of inequality and human rights soon surfaced as women who are well-off may not want to go through the pain of labor or don’t want pregnancy to delay their careers. On the other hand, those with a financial burden may provide their womb and sacrifice their freedom simply to make a living for their families. Whether this approach brings about more conflict or cooperation is yet to know. What is certain is that everything has its good and bad side. As medical science advances, it seems that humans can overcome more and more diseases or illnesses. Take genome editing for example, scientists can now screen and correct genes in cells, including the embryo, but to what extent should we interfere with nature? Should it be to prevent congenital disease, or to activate a gene that makes you taller, smarter, or even age slower? We might want to help children with autism, but will shyness be a “disease” that needs to be corrected in the future? And who can benefit from this technique? The wealthy? People of high social rank? And at what expense? Just as in the case of antibiotics and surrogate mothers, as we enjoy the fruits of medical science, we must keep in mind that there may be potential harm or conflicts lurking beneath. How to use these things wisely, while taking into account economic and social considerations as well, is a crucial issue to deal with in the years to come. a
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May 2024
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