Current Event for the Week of 2/19/07
An article on Yahoo News tells of the advancements being made in correcting blindness. It is explained that a tiny electrical implant attached to the retina could help those with macular degeneration to partially restore their vision. The implant is said to act as a photoreceptor that captures and processes the light.
Read the article here.
Although the chip can enhance one’s life by allowing them to at least partially see again, it also interferes with those who believe this apparatus might be playing God and changing the way a persons life should be. Do you believe if we’re able to correct blindness and deafness that soon most everything will be curable and our population will become a world of artificial parts and pieces? Has it been researched thoroughly? Don’t evaluations need to be made on potential harmful side effects or further injury to the eye? What if your family member can't afford the $30,000 price tag? Is it fair?
Read the article here.
Although the chip can enhance one’s life by allowing them to at least partially see again, it also interferes with those who believe this apparatus might be playing God and changing the way a persons life should be. Do you believe if we’re able to correct blindness and deafness that soon most everything will be curable and our population will become a world of artificial parts and pieces? Has it been researched thoroughly? Don’t evaluations need to be made on potential harmful side effects or further injury to the eye? What if your family member can't afford the $30,000 price tag? Is it fair?
posted by phs_sociology at 2:13 PM
9 Comments:
I think that it should be your call on if you want to take the risk of completely losing your eye sight or it not working and basically wasting your money. If the family cant afford it, then dont get it. Personally if i had that problem, i would wait until there is more research to get it done but that is just me.
These advancements are extremely helpful to those who need them and because it enhances their life, I have no problem with it at all. If one argues that it is playing God, they mt as well argue against every other advancement in medicine.
There is probably never going to be a time in that everything will be curable, but making strides and attempts to cure blindness and deafness should be continued.
Playing God? There's no wind in your house, turn off the fans and air conditioning.
Playing God? It's cold outside, turn off the heat. The only good heat is that provided by the sun because God created it.
Take the pacemaker out of your grandmother's chest. While you're at it, take away her walker.
You get my point. I hate it when people bring religion into their views on technology. If the only "valid" argument against this helpful procedure is that it's "Playing God" then the argument needs to be tossed out right now as being insensitive, intolerant and biased. Where in the Bible does it say, "Thou shalt not cure blindness"?
i have no problem with this whole thing. honestly more power to ya if you want to get it done. if you have the money go for it. you can take that one risk for it to change or life ot not. would you do it? i know i would if i had a problem like that.
There really isnt any risk to take by getting the implant if you are already blind because u have nothing to lose. Vision is priceless, so im assuming that almost anyone no matter whether or not they can afford the 30,000 dollar price tag will be willing to do anything to get this implant because ones sight is one of the most valuable thing in anyones life.
This is what I have to say to those who believe it is playing God: do you think that the people suffering from blindness would want to remain blind if they got the chance to see again? It is rediculous. The amount of people who don't like this is (I'd imagine) very minute. There will never be enough research on anything. Even if they conduct years of experiments on it to test it there is always the possibility that there will be an unknown side effect depending on the condition of the patient. I think that the $30,000 is very believable. They are not trying to be fair OR unfair. They are trying to use the technology we have to make it as cheap as possible. In the future the price of it will drop, just like everything else in our society.
I think that this is going to be extremely helpful in allowing blind people to see. I do see how people are saying that it is playing God, because this is so closely related to what is said to be the sign of the devil. I guess you just have to think whether it's worth or not to go through with it. Although if someone got it that was going blind, but could still see a little bit then this procedure could go wrong and having them be blind for the rest of their life.
i think this would be a wonderful thing to have done. its your risk though on if it works or not, but i think any blind person would be willing to do this if they had the money.
- i see where people think this is playing god but i believe any advances in technology or medicine would be considered "playing god" then.
- i personally would wait until it was researched more thoroughly and improved but i would definitely get it done.
- i don't think everything will ever be curable but i think any advancements to help people live a longer and better life is a good advancement. some people are less fortunate than others but does that eliminate them from living their life to the fullest? even if they need a few pieces of technology, i still think everyone deserves to live their life the best way possible.
My Grandma has macular degeneration and has been going blind for years now. I think that a development like this is a great advancemnt in medical history regardless of the cost or of the fact that some people may be offended by it because it is "playing God."
I think that it is in the human nature to try to "play God." Humans have the logical capabilities to split atoms without a further thought about it. If that isn't playing God I don't know what is but atleast "playing God" in the form of correcting blindness is a bit more helpful then being able to create an Atom Bomb.
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