Pope attacks culture of ‘perfect people’
by Michael Cook | 18 Jun 2016 | 1 comment
Pope Francis has made a stinging, if familiar, attack on the bioethics of a consumer society in an address in Rome. He decried the tendency to search for the perfect body and to warehouse the disabled out of sight to avoid offending the sensibilities of the “privileged few”.
In an age when care for one’s body has become an obsession and a big business, anything imperfect has to be hidden away, since it threatens the happiness and serenity of the privileged few and endangers the dominant model.
Such persons should best be kept apart, in some “enclosure” – even a gilded one – or in “islands” of pietism or social welfare, so that they do not hold back the pace of a false well-being. In some cases, we are even told that it is better to eliminate them as soon as possible, because they become an unacceptable economic burden in time of crisis.
Yet what an illusion it is when people today shut their eyes in the face of sickness and disability! They fail to understand the real meaning of life, which also has to do with accepting suffering and limitations.
The world does not become better because only apparently “perfect” people live there – I say “perfect” rather than “false” – but when human solidarity, mutual acceptance and respect increase.
I have no love for Donald Trump, but it does seem unfair that only he is being accused of being crazy in this year’s election for president. It is a truth universally acknowledged that any man (or woman) who hankers after high public office must be in need of a psychiatrist. In 2013 psychologists published an article asserting that most recent presidents have suffered from “grandiose narcissism, which comprises immodesty, boastfulness and interpersonal dominance”. Remember that Hillary Clinton has been accused of all these failings, not just Trump. Perhaps they are crafty, not crazy.
That’s why the Goldwater Rule is a good thing. As Xavier Symons mentions below, this is an informal rule of medical ethics for psychologists and psychiatrists which bans them from commenting on the mental state and stability of public figures. It’s very rash to predict that psychological flaws disqualify a person from holding public office. Winston Churchill was depressive and an alcoholic and became the most admired statesman of the 20th century. Abraham Lincoln probably suffered from depression but is the most revered of all American presidents. Mr Trump may be unsuited to the job of president, but I’d prefer to make up my own mind on the subject without airy speculation from psychiatrists who have never spoken to the man himself.
Michael Cook
Editor
BioEdge
| This week in BioEdge | |
by Xavier Symons | Jun 18, 2016
Professional associations ban comments on public figuresby Xavier Symons | Jun 18, 2016
Can a child ask for withdrawal of treatment?by Michael Cook | Jun 18, 2016
The short answer is: don't hold your breathby Xavier Symons | Jun 18, 2016
The American Medical Association has labelled gun violence a “public health crisis” and called on congress to fund research into gun related crime.by Michael Cook | Jun 18, 2016
Ethicists have serious doubts about the procedure, even in Chinaby Michael Cook | Jun 18, 2016
But donation goes against strong cultural prejudicesby Michael Cook | Jun 18, 2016
"They become an unacceptable economic burden in time of crisis"by Michael Cook | Jun 18, 2016
A pioneer in modern medical ethics broke some of the rulesby Michael Cook | Jun 18, 2016
Is a knighthood part of a publicity campaign for three-parent embryos?BioEdge
Suite 12A, Level 2 | 5 George St | North Strathfield NSW 2137 | Australia
Phone: +61 2 8005 8605
Mobile: 0422-691-615
Email: michael@bioedge.org
New Media Foundation | Level 2, 5 George St | North Strathfield NSW 2137 | AUSTRALIA | +61 2 8005 8605
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario