EDST 391 Ethics & the Human Genome

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Assignment for Day 19

Clinical Trials for Gene Therapy

Brian’s Day!

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Readings:

• How does gene therapy work, is it safe, & what are the ethical issues? Genetics Home Reference, National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Read the first 3 pages. That means you have to click ‘next’ twice.
• You will be given other materials in class.

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Writing assignment for opening discussion:

· Locate, and hand in, one article about a specific gene therapy trial that has been completed, is underway, or is being planned.

· Please answer the following questions.

o What was the goal of the therapy?

o What process was used in the trial to treat the patient (viruses, etc.)?

o What was the outcome of the trial?

Thinking assignment for further discussion:

• All researchers who do clinical trials to test some new drug or medical procedure must get “informed consent” from every person participating in their trials. If you were considering participating in such a trial, what ethical factors would you consider in making your decision? To what extent do your ethical considerations reflect one vs. another of the different ethical systems we’ve discussed?

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