Love, Compassion and Service- the limit of science.
I was talking to one of my friends recently. Having several
acquaintances grappling with cancer, she questioned, “Why we do not have a cure
for cancer? Science has advanced so far, still…we are far from a remedy.” Cancer
is elusive; and, indeed, has defied most human efforts. Or… don’t we have resilience
to challenge this “emperor of all maladies”? Or, do we lack the commitment, compassion
and mindset for a solution?
Recent reports question our convictions to ease human
agonies. FDA approved 45 new drugs in 2015 with 14 for treating various cancers.
Most of these drugs come with six-figure list annual price for treatment. One
of the drugs (Kanuma from Alexion Pharmaceuticals) was brought to the market by
FDA’s blessings at an accelerated pace. This drug was given orphan, breakthrough
and priority review statuses. Still, the tag price for the annual supply is a
whopping $310,000- really?? Where’s the love, compassion and service embodied
in science? Why do we want to accelerate drug discovery in the first place if
we cannot access or afford its benefits?
In another report American Science
Congress found nothing wrong in modifying the DNA of the human egg prior to
in-vitro fertilization. Whatever proponents argue, it is unethical; it is against
nature and bound to carry unintended consequences to human race. If implemented,
we are not far from “multi-mom”, “super” and “Tailor-made” babies. This, at
least, is not one of the areas scientists should invest their time, resources
and talents. Re-route the energy to cut the cost of those “lifesaving” and “breakthrough”
drugs so that we could afford them.
Federal government today lifted
the moratorium on the ban funding some controversial experiments that challenge
our ethical convictions. The new policy allow scientists access federal funding
to develop animal embryos with human stem cells. Where are we going? Animals
with human brain? Animal-human hybrid? Sheep, pigs and cows with human
heart? The public has 30 days to comment
on the proposed policy at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/rfi/rfi.cfm?ID=57
If the science is not doing any justice to humanity and
nature, it ceases to be science. The limit of science should be love,
compassion and service. I have stumbled upon one of the limbs of ashtange yoga
– Dharana. The best cognizant visual for
dharana is the “freedom of movement”
of a cow tied to its neck and a peg. The resistance of the peg reminds the cow
the realm and they know it and will never try to get out of the area. (This is
hard to imagine in this part of the world, where cows have acres of land to
graze. I am talking about the villages in developing countries with limited
land to live. An invisible fence may be more relevant here. )
I wish scientists set a similar boundary; a boundary of
service from love and compassion- a dharana
on our existence. Then, everything will fall in place.
Love to hear from you.
Jay
