Posted on 09/29/2020 8:46:30 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
A new drug offers children with dwarfism the chance at a life with fewer medical issues and closer-to-average height — but there is controversy over whether normalizing dwarves’ bodies is ethical.
A study published this month in the journal the Lancet reported that a once-daily injection of growth drug vosoritide “is an effective treatment to increase growth in children with achondroplasia,” which is the most common form of dwarfism.
“The main purpose of the drug is to improve the quality of life for children with achondroplasia,” Dr. Melita Irving, a consultant clinical geneticist and the leader of the UK trial for vosoritide, told the Guardian. “I see benefits in so many aspects of their lives — physically, psychologically, functionally and with respect to their health as well. It’s very exciting for those children and their families.”
The growth drug is a major development, as there are currently no effective therapies for achondroplasia, and it is known to cause a variety of chronic health issues including sleep apnea, spinal stenosis and skull issues. These are often treated with surgical operations which bring on further complications, including “paralysis, pain on a daily basis, sleep apnea and serious neurological complications,” said Irving.
Although vosoritide may help to rid children with achondroplasia of future health problems, some have deemed it controversial since it would “fix” their short stature.
“People like me are endangered and now they want to make me extinct,” said Leah Smith, a spokeswoman for Little People of America, told the Guardian.
“If I could take a drug to get rid of my spinal stenosis [when the spinal column narrows and starts to compress the spinal cord], I would take it,” disability lecturer Erin Pritchard, who has achondroplasia, told the Guardian.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
What if a normal sized person took it?
A lot of dwarfism happens among the “plain” sects; amish, menonites, etc., because of in-breeding; marriage between too close of relatives. It sometimes includes six fingers on the hands. A thumb and five fingers, to be more precise. And, I once saw a man with six fingers on each hand, but of normal stature.
we would solve deafness and blindness in an instant...we would solve diabetes in an instant....
fewer people with health problems....what is the problem here....
Only a height pimp would compare a cure for this affliction to a genocide.
https://youtu.be/p2zukteYbGQ?t=1621
Well, and what if we ever have to build a fleet of B-24s again. We used them at Willow Run in the factory to fit into small spaces for inspections and assembly.
What would be ethical would be to make the drug available to all who qualify to take it, so long as they really want to take it - and they are informed as to its effect, both physical and emotional. By the same token, those who do not wish to take this drug should, of course, not be forced to - nor should any people on either side of that decision be socially ostracized in any way because of the choice that they make.
The only unethical thing would be to deny the drug to someone who made an informed decision that they wanted to take it.
None of the above is moral or ethical rocket science - pretty much anyone should be able to come to the same conclusions without much hard work, because if WE were in that situation (and we might be for any number of diseases or conditions in the future, who knows?), we ourselves would want to have the right to make an informed choice.
It sounds like a great thing to me.
Especially with a condition that’s so debilitating.
I don’t see the issue with being able to lead a relatively independent life.
...Michael Bloomberg....
Reminds me of the Deaf Lobby back in the day. They didn’t want cochlear implants because ‘there is nothing wrong with us’. People with disabilities should be able to decide for themselves if they want surgery etc. to correct serious problems. And yes, I do consider deafness as a real disability. Now this will be controversial, but helpful for those, or parents of those, who want it.
I have a childhood friend who was one of the last of the midgets. He was in his teens before the treatment came out. He took it and is now just short rather then tiny. But it was extraordinarily painful because of how old he was. If he had started when he was a baby if would have been essentially painless.
This lady will never be able to this treatment.
excellent post!
Exactly!
The same people oppose enabling the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the crippled to walk, homosexuals to become normal...
I’ve heard that there is a niche market for midgets like her in porn; curing them might deprive them of opportunities.
Is that the Pit Yorkie?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.