Buck vs. Bell
Lee M. Silver's Remaking Eden and Dr. Leon R. Kass' Life, Liberty and the Defense of Dignity provide differing perspectives on the applicability of the issue of the case of Buck vs. Bell to today's society. In Buck vs. Bell, eugenics and Social Darwinism spurred a Supreme Court decision that allowed forced sterilization. In Remaking Eden, the perspective of Silver effectively argues that the case of Buck vs. Bell is not at all applicable to genetic issues today. Silver's optimistic stance on genetic engineering seems to indicate that human innovativeness and ingenuity will allow humans to successfully use genetic technologies to improve the world. In contrast, Kass' perspective suggests that the case of Buck vs. Bell is highly applicable to genetic issues today. Kass notes that even well-meaning and benevolent applications of technology can have devastating impacts on human dignity, echoing a theme found in the violation of the rights of Carrie Buck.
Early this century, the Supreme Court case of Buck vs. Bell upheld the West Virginia law that allowed forced sterilization of those who were considered "feebleminded." In the decision, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. noted, "It is better for all the world, if instead of waiting to execute degenerate offspring for crime or to let them starve for their imbecility society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind...Three generations of imbeciles are enough." As a result of this decision, Carrie Buck was sterilized, as both she and her daughter, Emma, were deemed to be "feebleminded" (Syracuse University).
Interestingly, Emma, whom Carrie Buck gave birth to before her sterilization, did well in school. She made the honor role, and was a good student. As such, it appears that the sterilization of Carrie Buck was carried out on an incorrect diagnosis of "feeblemindedness." It appears that eugenics and Social Darwinism that underscored the Buck vs. Bell decision were ultimately based on a faulty understanding of genetics (Syracuse University).
There is more to the case of Buck vs. Bell than the simple misunderstanding of genetic principles, however. The sterilization of Carrie Buck and others like her was guided by society's belief that those who were deficient or inferior should not be allowed to reproduce in order to improve the human species. In Carrie...
Vitro' fertilization is one of the applications of advanced technology that provides a solution to infertility among couples. The practice has long been in existence, and many referred to offspring of couples who have undergone this process, 'test tube babies.' In vitro ('in glass') fertilization is only one of the many treatments for infertility. The general term by which in vitro can be identified is through artificial insemination, wherein semen
In Vitro Fertilization This is a paper that outlines the morality issue behind in vitro fertilization. It has 12 sources. As scientific progress advances more rapidly than the ability of mankind to assimilate and comprehend its influence on life concerns, fields such as Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) are turning heretofore basic issues like procreation into complex ethical and moral dilemmas. In 1978, with the birth of Louise Brown, the first child conceived through
In-Vitro Fertilization One of the most remarkable medical discoveries of the 20th century is in-vitro fertilization, a technique developed and used to conceive a human embryo outside of the mother's body. In-vitro fertilization was originally devised for use in cases of infertility, i.e., where the woman's fallopian tubes were damaged or the man's sperm count was low. However, in recent years, the use of in-vitro fertilization has been expanded to include
Secondary risk factors are high E2 serum levels or rising levels, more than 20-25 follicles in both ovaries, the number of eggs retrieved, stimulation agents used, hCG administration, and pregnancy. Younger women are more prone to the syndrome as they are more responsive to gonadotropins and have more follicles than older women. Findings suggested that a lower body mass index carries a risk. Women with PCOS are more sensitive
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) In the 1960s, the use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) to help couples conceive children was mired in controversy. Once media events, the birth of test tube babies no longer cause any surprise. For many people, the concept of IVF had become routine. However, recent developments in IVF technology have raised more ethical quandaries. Is it ethical for parents to use IVF technology to conceive and give
This might be the case for an idnivdual that suffers from severe mental retardation or some type of brain injury that prohibits the person from making common sense and logical decisions. Why should this person/couple not be allowed IVF? If they don't have the mental capability to care for themselves or make good decisions, they will not be able to make good decisions and care for a baby. Caring
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now