Journal of Law and the Biosciences 2 (1):85-91 (2015)
Authors |
|
Abstract |
Mehlman and Li offer a framework for approaching the bioethical issues raised by the military use of genomics that is compellingly grounded in both the contemporary civilian and military ethics of medical research, arguing that military commanders must be bound by the two principles of paternal- ism and proportionality. I agree fully. But I argue here that this is a much higher bar than we may fully realize. Just as the principle of proportionality relies upon a thorough assessment of harms caused and military advantage gained, the use of genomic research, on Mehlman and Li’s view, will require an accurate understanding of the connection between genotypes and phenotypes – accurate enough to ameliorate the risk undertaken by our armed forces in being subject to such research. Recent conceptual work in evolutionary theory and the philosophy of biology, however, renders it doubtful that such knowledge is forthcoming. The complexity of the relationship between genotypic factors and realized traits (the so-called ‘G→P map’) makes the estimation of potential military advantage, as well as potential harm to our troops, incredibly challenging. Such fundamental conceptual challenges call into question our ability to ever satisfactorily satisfy the demands of a sufficiently rigorous ethical standard.
|
Keywords | genomic testing G→P map genomic regulatory networks development proportionality |
Categories | (categorize this paper) |
Options |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Download options
References found in this work BETA
No references found.
Citations of this work BETA
No citations found.
Similar books and articles
Challenges of Web-Based Personal Genomic Data Sharing.Pascal Borry & Mahsa Shabani - 2015 - Life Sciences, Society and Policy 11 (1):1-13.
Proportionality, Just War Theory, and America’s 2003–2004 War Against Iraq.Joseph Betz - 2005 - Social Philosophy Today 21:137-156.
Genomic Programs as Mechanism Schemas: A Non-Reductionist Interpretation.Tudor M. Baetu - 2012 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 63 (3):649-671.
A Framework for Military Bioethics.Maxwell J. Mehlman & Stephanie Corley - 2014 - Journal of Military Ethics 13 (4):331-349.
Genomic Research Data: Open Vs. Restricted Access.David B. Resnik - 2010 - IRB: Ethics & Human Research 32 (1):1.
Proportionality, Territorial Occupation, and Enabled Terrorism.Saba Bazargan - 2013 - Law and Philosophy 32 (4):435-457.
The Fiduciary Relationship Model for Managing Clinical Genomic “Incidental” Findings.Gabriel Lázaro-Muñoz - 2014 - Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics 42 (4):576-589.
An Eye for an Eye: Proportionality and Surveillance.Kevin Macnish - 2015 - Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 18 (3):529-548.
From Genomic Databases to Translation: A Call to Action.B. M. Knoppers, J. R. Harris, P. R. Burton, M. Murtagh, D. Cox, M. Deschenes, I. Fortier, T. J. Hudson, J. Kaye & K. Lindpaintner - 2011 - Journal of Medical Ethics 37 (8):515-516.
Proportionality in the Conduct of War.Paul Gilbert - 2005 - Journal of Military Ethics 4 (2):100-107.
Does an Appeal to the Common Good Justify Individual Sacrifices for Genomic Research?Rogeer Hoedemaekers, Bert Gordijn & Martien Pijnenburg - 2006 - Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics 27 (5):415-431.
Ethical Issues and Potential Stakeholder Priorities Associated with the Application of Genomic Technologies Applied to Animal Production Systems.David Coles, Lynn J. Frewer & Ellen Goddard - 2015 - Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 28 (2):231-253.
Critical Social Theory Approach to Disclosure of Genomic Incidental Findings.J. L. Bevan, J. N. Senn-Reeves, B. R. Inventor, S. M. Greiner, K. M. Mayer, M. T. Rivard & R. J. Hamilton - 2012 - Nursing Ethics 19 (6):819-828.
Analytics
Added to PP index
2015-03-10
Total views
249 ( #43,449 of 2,498,913 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
13 ( #59,200 of 2,498,913 )
2015-03-10
Total views
249 ( #43,449 of 2,498,913 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
13 ( #59,200 of 2,498,913 )
How can I increase my downloads?
Downloads