Bush's bioethics advisor gives Waggoner Lecture

President Bush's chief science advisor, Dr. Leon Kass, discussed moral and ethical dilemmas posed by the use of biotechnology Dec. 3 at the U-M Health System's 8th annual Raymond W. Waggoner Lecture on Ethics and Values in Medicine.

Kass, who chairs the President's Council on Bioethics, delivered a thorough summary of the council's recently released report on aspects of life sciences research that go "beyond therapy" and into the realm of improving the human body, extending lifespan and enhancing happiness.

Kass pondered the moral and ethical implications of both the dual use of medical innovations, and research targeted directly at developing non-therapeutic interventions. His remarks touched on the debate over the use of growth hormones for short but healthy children, and the societal and demographic catastrophe that might result from too much success in the area of life extension.

The report on which much of Kass's talk was based is available at the council's Web site, http://www.bioethics.gov. The lecture will be broadcast on UMTV (Channel 22) and Ann Arbor CitiTV (Channel 19); check listings for dates and times.

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