Is taking anabolic steroids for bodybuilding the same as administering growth hormone to persons with inherited dwarfism?
The question presented here asks the difference between those who take steroids to build muscle mass and improve athleticism, and those who take growth hormones to combat the genetic side effect of short stature in dwarfism. The answer, though seemingly simple, depends on many more aspects than first meet the eye.
Anabolic steroids are plaguing the sports-related breaking news stories from media sources like CBS and FOX, broadcasting the latest athlete charged with steroid drug use. As the media announces each new transgression, questions of the sportsmanship and the morality of taking anabolic steroids arise. Not only are steroids making headlines in news stories, but so are stories of growth hormone usage. Many are questioning the effects of taking such drugs. Dr. Mark Kuczewski, a bioethicist, states, “We are living in the 'extreme makeover' society now, where we want medicine to make us more popular, make us more beautiful, make us live longer.” So what is the line between appearance and health benefit?
Other questions that stem from these two controversial topics:
- What is the difference between enhancement and therapy?
- Because GH is taking primarily by children, what is the harm of children taking a drug as opposed to adults taking steroids?
- What is the benefit of taking these drugs?
- What are the social outcomes of taking such drugs?
- Are these drugs safe? What are the side effects?
- "Do we treat a social prejudice with a social solution, or are we going to treat it with a medical solution?"
- Where do we draw the line of having medicines and drugs adjust our appearance?
- Is this just a dilemma of appearance enhancement, or is it a question that goes deeper into societal norms and the risk factors in benefiting someone’s health?
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References:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,99277,00.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growth_hormone_treatment#Ethical_issues
http://www.annals.org/cgi/reprint/137/3/202.pdf
http://www.annals.org/cgi/reprint/137/3/197.pdf
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/03/earlyshow/contributors/tracysmith/main2642951.shtml
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,144419,00.html
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Sep25/0,4670,SteroidBusts,00.html