ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 464

In case of birth defects Jainism will bring in Karma of that child to be born in play and decide against abortion, stating that if that child has to suffer because of his / her own past karmas, child will live or die of natural causes. Therefore Jainism will not favor abortion for the reason of birth defects.
Should pre-mature delivery of child born under 3.0 lbs or child born with physical and / or mental disabilities be saved? With advent of neonatal intensive care units every attempt is made to save every child at least in western world. These children do grow up with disabilities from slow learning to obvious physical disabilities. Cost of such treatment is about an average of $160,000 per child.
SORS OF JAN
Jainism will definitely support such treatment as every life has same rights to live. As far as disabilities are concerned, Jainism will explain the same on the theory of karma.
4.4 Should Animal Transplant Be Given to Humans?
Five-pound infant baby Fae was given a heart transplant of a seven-month-old female baboon by Dr. Leonard Baily of Loma Linda University in California. Baby Fae survived 21 days.
Animal rights group protested against use of baboon as organ factories. Jaina view is very clear here that life of the baboon is equally precious as the life of baby Fae and that this will be an act of murder, violation of the principle of nonviolence. My personal view is that this is one life sacrificed for saving one life; this is not an experiment on animal to save disease process or entire humanity at large and therefore is not acceptable.
4.5 Ethics of Gene Therapy and Genetic Engineering
With completion of human genome project 100,000 genes were identified and DNA straight in the nucleus and put into sequence gave scientist the ability to read nature's complete blue print for understanding disease process and may be for creating a human being. Dr. W. French Anderson the father of gene therapy predicts that human genetic engineering will not only profoundly change the practice of medicines, but will impact every aspect of our culture. Down the road doctors will be able to give us DNA finger prints of genes that predispose us to common kinds of diseases, a computer will then be able to read genetic profile, and help doctors some day diagnose diseases before they occur and dispense medical directives. Gene therapy is based on an understanding of the body in which genes provide the system of defence and healing. Genes protect the body, repair damage, and restore it to health. There are two types of gene therapy:
Somatic Cell Gene Therapy: Implied solely for treatment of diseases like sickle - Cell anaemia, haemophilia and Gaucher's disease caused by a defect in a single gene. Somatic Cell Engineering: Used solely for a possible enhancement rather then treatment like increasing the height or make people brainier.
Jain bioethics will welcome such progress towards setting the stage for:
A new era of preventive medicines
New insights to treat patient as a person, having a unique genetic profile Affirm belief in Puru rtha (activity in control of destiny)
Jainism believes in preserving health of physical and mental body in order to pursue spiritual progress while keeping the principal of non violence in the fore front, especially considering unnecessary experiments on animals and humans. But if these techniques are utilized for the betterment of the humanity as a whole and not solely for purpose of financial gain, Jainism will accept it.
Jainism will definitely oppose enhancement gene treatment for betterment of vanity rather than values, as enhancement gene treatment could become an exclusive right of the rich.
Somatic cell enhancement engineering threatens human values especially at our present understanding of such technology is limited and we yet have a limited understanding specially in understanding the passes of thoughts, reasoning, logic and consciousness.
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0