ARTH 3002 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: David Reimer, Biomedical Technology, John Money
19 Dec 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Types of biomedical technology
— Control of life and death
— Control of human potentialities
— Control of human achievement
Control of human potentialities
1 — Genetic screening
2 — Genetic engineering
Genetic screening
IVF = In-vitro fertilization
PID = Pre-Implantation diagnosis
1— New technologies
2 — Impact: parents must make decisions that weren’t necessary in the past
The pros: Selecting good quality embryos for implantation
The cons: Bad quality embryos are eliminated
The ethical and social issues:
Distributive Justice
Use and abuse of power
self degradation and dehumanization
Distributive Justice (who is getting what?)
First order: New medical technology that saves lives —> there isn't enough devices to save
everyone —> who gets treated, who doesn’t?
Dialysis — Who gets it? what criteria? who makes the decision? At first, god squads were made
up, groups of professionals, but not all doctors.
Second order — What gets funded?
(Dialysis research, breast cancer research, etc…?)
Third order — What gets funded?
(Medicine, education, defence, environment, etc…?)
—> Use and abuse of power.
— specific cases
— the power itself
Specific case (David Reimer) CBC / May 2004)
Summer 1965. Twins born to Janet Reimer (named Bruce and Brian)
At some point, the sons were circumsized. Something went wrong and Brian’s penis was
damaged so badly it couldn't be repaired for help.
They looked for help, and Dr. John Money from the University of John’s Hopkins was willing to
help.
He had a thoeyr, that if boys were caught early enough they could be raised as girls. Nature, not
natural, determines gender. At age 21 months, Brian’s testicles were removed. Raised as
Brenda— no one told her she was born a boy.
Document Summary
2 impact: parents must make decisions that weren"t necessary in the past. The pros: selecting good quality embryos for implantation. Use and abuse of power self degradation and dehumanization. At rst, god squads were made up, groups of professionals, but not all doctors. Second order what gets funded? (dialysis research, breast cancer research, etc ?) Third order what gets funded? (medicine, education, defence, environment, etc ?) Speci c case (david reimer) cbc / may 2004) Twins born to janet reimer (named bruce and brian) Something went wrong and brian"s penis was damaged so badly it couldn"t be repaired for help. They looked for help, and dr. john money from the university of john"s hopkins was willing to help. He had a thoeyr, that if boys were caught early enough they could be raised as girls. At age 21 months, brian"s testicles were removed. Brenda no one told her she was born a boy.
