Meanwhile, modern scientific research has made a major breakthrough in medical research which makes it possible for scientists to produce copies of a person without carrying out the conventional reproduction activities using human sperms and eggs. However, the exercise which is still in its early stages is already highly regarded as unethical not to mention the severe defects that may arise as a result of the same. Research has shown that 90% percent of the cells used in animal cloning do not survive. The few which survive are vulnerable to infections and tumors due to a weak immune system.
A group of Japanese doctors who successfully cloned mice reported that the mammals died at a very young age. Presently, the act is being considered illegal following the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights which was adopted in 1997 by UNESCO’s General Conference and approved by the United Nations General Assembly. The declaration considers any practices which violate human dignity, such as human cloning as illegal. Although it is a common knowledge that health workers keep medical communications between them and patients private, the issue is still one of the mostly contested in healthcare.
According to Merck online Medical Library, healthcare practitioners have the obligation to keep patient’s medical records confidential and communication between the doctor and the patient should remain confidential. Even though privacy of patient records is protected by certain legal limitations which vary from one jurisdiction to the other, it is mainly guided by ethics and dates back to The Roman Hippocratic Oath taken by medical doctors swearing to practice medicine ethically.
However, doctors are sometimes required to disclose medical records of patients if they are suffering from conditions posing a danger to others. Is Mercy Killing Ethical? Mercy killing or euthanasia is yet another ethical controversy that health professionals continue to grapple with. In circumstances when a patient is in deep pain, he/she may willingly request that his/her life be taken by medical procedures. However, whether it is ethical or not to allow euthanasia still remains one of the most contested issues in healthcare.
There are those who believe that euthanasia violates the sanctity of life and may just works in a person’s self interest and thus the expression ‘assisted suicide. ’ Other than that, there are fears that allowing euthanasia may open up avenues for uncontrolled euthanasia and covered up homicide. According to the Merck Online Medical Library, “Death With Dignity” in Oregon allows doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to terminally ill patients for them to take when the make up their minds to die. Although this law has clauses to prevent abuse, there are questions whether it is respects the values of the society.