Qu: Examine whether there should be any limits on the advancement of medical science.

Introduction

Medical science is a branch of science concerned with the study of the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases. It
covers many subjects trying to explain how the body works, such as anatomy, microbiology, molecular biology and genetics.
In the field of medical science, there were a number of scientific breakthroughs such as Vaccines (1796), Anaesthetics (1846),
Medical Imaging (1895), Antibiotics (1928), Organ transplants and loads more. The parameters set on the advances of
medical science maybe perhaps hinder scientific progress. The question remains yet to be discussed. Should there be any
limitations on the evolution of medical science?

Body

Vaccines (1) have been around for a while and has become an accepted practice by many countries around the globe.
Inoculated by Edward Jenner to tame the prevailing disease at that time – smallpox virus. In attempt to using this as a cure,
its usefulness and popularity of vaccines soared. It served as a deterrent to spreading diseases to others around. A more
recent technology, called mRNA, was a complete game-changer challenging its high effectiveness, capacity for rapid
development and potential for low production costs. This proved to be more pronounced during the Covid-19 pandemic for it
was developed and approved within a span of a few months. According to the WHO (World Health Organisation), Measles
vaccines alone prevented 25.5 million deaths since 2000, and enormous progress towards the eradication of polio – which
can cause lifelong paralysis and sometimes death.

Anaesthesia (2) is a state in which someone does not feel pain, usually because of drugs they have been given. Aesthesia was
a scientific breakthrough that helped patients undergoing surgery shun from enduring excruciating ordeal. It was first used in
the mid-19th century, where the patients as a last resort where undertaking surgery and suffered to the extent that they
would rather opt for death instead. Clinically, anaesthesia is accompanied by surgery, and these are inseparable. The pain and
stress reaction caused by the surgery is significantly reduced and even eliminated by anaesthesia. More than 300 million
people worldwide receives anaesthesia annually. With the rapid socio and economic advancements and the complexity of
medical treatment, the numbers will surge.

However, despite its overall effectiveness, there exists certain breakthroughs that have taken a wrong turn. Genetic
Engineering (3) is the act of deliberating modifying the characteristics of an orgasm by manipulating its genetic material. One
of which is adding a gene from one species to an organism from different species to produce a desired trait. For instance, a
newborn who has a defective body part can use this technology to help the newborn reshape to become normal and reduce
the chances of genetically passing on these defects onto the next generation. By altering the genetic encoding of an
individual may not turn out to be a good idea since there is always a probability that the operation does not work out. Ill
intentioned people who attempt to produce ‘designer babies’ consisting of athletic genes or genes containing aspects related
to leadership skills, are exposing their babies to a lot of risk where some may end up being paralyzed for life if it fails to work.
This treatment is expensive and therefore widens the poverty gap between poor-rich, since the rich will enjoy all the ‘perfect
genes. Moreover, this transcends all moral and religion barriers- acts as sign of disrespect that we are correcting the
‘imperfections’ of a human.

Conclusion

These arguments advocated have brought into limelight that there is a sort of control needed to be done regarding
advancement of medical science. Both Vaccines and Anaesthesia have largely contributed on their on way including genetic
engineering. However, we need not to misuse and abuse the system so that it poses a threat onto others and the further
generations to come. In Medicine, we should embrace all the uncertainties knowing that there is no guarantee that it will
work. It all comes down to the same old adage: “Medicine is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability. “– William
Osier