JS Introduction When we think of the realm of bioethics our minds often jump to

JS Introduction When we think of the realm of bioethics our minds often jump to the “hot topics.” We tend to think about beginning of life issues, end of life, stem cell research, and human enhancement. One idea that often gets overlooked within bioethics is eugenics. When you hear the word eugenics, what do you think of? Many people will jump automatically to thinking of Nazi Germany and the Aryan Race. The purpose of this paper is to explore the many other forms that eugenics takes and how it was and still is used throughout the world. The eugenics movement is not one that happened solely in Germany, but it also happened here in the United States. According to Martínez (2022) the purpose behind the eugenics movement was to speed up the process of natural selection by using selective breeding and sterilizing individuals that were “genetically inferior.” Research Findings The Eugenics Movement had the ideology that we could create a stronger and healthier society by eliminating the evolution of “feeblemindedness.” Charles Davenport and Francis Galton were the founding fathers behind the ideas of eugenics; they used research that was already available via Charles Darwin and Mendel in order to prove how eliminating procreation of people that have less than desirable traits could create a better off society (Martínez, 2022). The main idea that will be focused on throughout this paper will be forced sterilization and the spread of eugenics throughout the world. Eugenics was the biggest headlines throughout the United States; therefore, eugenicists were trying to get everyone on their side in order to showcase how it would help improve the nation. When forced sterilization started to occur eugenicists started to get some push back, however they knew that if a case was ruled on by the Supreme Court, they could get a national legal standard that would allow sterilization (Rafael de la Uz et al., 2018). That is exactly what happened. In 1924 Carrie Buck underwent forced sterilization in a Virginia institution for epileptics and feebleminded. The state argued that Buck be sterilized because she was part of a worthless class, and she would likely have offspring that were socially inept or degenerate. Buck did sue the state and her case was brought forth to the Supreme Court, unfortunately they did not side with her, and several states passed laws to protect sterilization and those that complete the procedure (Rosen, 2004). As mentioned previously, many people believe that Germany founded the idea behind eugenics, however the truth is that their ideas derived from the policies that were developed by the United States and Britain. People also popularly believe that Adolf Hitler was the founder of eugenics within Germany, however Ernst Haeckel embraced the concepts that later gained support by the Nazi regime. Hitler took eugenics to a different level through the genocide of the Jewish community, however his ideas started from having a strong German Volk (David et al., 1988). It would be nice to believe that eugenics is not still around, however this is not true. The Indigenous women within Canada still face forced sterilization, the last case recorded was in December of 2018. It is thought that the cause of the continuation of sterilization within this population is the lack of understanding. There are often issues with informed consent, a language barrier, stereotyping, and a paternalistic government (Stote, 2022). The ideas of eugenics have also started to surface within the United States in the year 2019. A group of scientists have started to evaluate how to control the human population in relation to slowing down climate change. Although the idea of slowing the growth of expansion is not directly correlated with eugenics there may be methods that are similar. This can be seen in countries such as India and China where there is sterilization and there were laws regarding how many children a family could have (Fendley, 2020). We could easily start down the slippery slope of eugenics again based off those principles. Bioethical Analysis I believe that the issue of eugenics is unethical and goes against both dignity and social justice principles. The major principle that eugenics disregards is autonomy (Panicola). All control and choice are lost with forced sterilization through the eugenics movement. Men and women did not have the choice to not have children, rather they forcefully had that choice revoked. I find that eugenics goes against more of the social justice principles highlighted by the Catholic Social Teachings. Eugenics revokes the principles of the call to family, human dignity, the option for the poor and vulnerable, and solidarity (Cameron and Welch). When a person undergoes sterilization, they no longer have the option to have a family, they can no longer live their life with dignity, and solidarity is lost. Eugenics separates the poor and vulnerable from the others, therefore they do not have the same options and protection as the rest of society. Eugenics also goes against natural law. Catholics believe in the protection of humans, the indissolubility of marriage, procreation and the human life, and family. The idea of following biology goes against the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas who stated that laws reflect the divine reason and therefore cannot be changed (Rosen, 2004). These same ideas coincide with those of the Catholic Social Teachings as well as Panicola’s principles. Moral Complexity With every argument there are always two sides. Although I believe eugenics to be unethical and morally unacceptable there are still people that may think otherwise. It can be argued that eugenics is a good thing based off the principle of beneficence (Panicola). Those that believe that eugenics is good can argue that sterilization is the best choice for the patient and will benefit them in the long run. There is also the argument that eugenics could help cure diseases via stopping the inheritance of genetics. If we force people with certain conditions to stop procreating, then they will not be able to pass on hereditary traits that are not desirable. ML COVID-19 Global Disparities Introduction COVID-19 has surprised and affected the world around us tremendously. COVID-19 is a disease that many around the world were not at all prepared for and that did not have a pending vaccine. When COVID-19 global pandemic was I it’s early stages, there was tremendous chaos and high death rates all over the world and in America, one of the few countries to have the best resources available. There are many issues and a raise of questions of how COVID-19 vaccines were made and why COVID-19 disease was not able to be diagnosed properly in its beginning stages. I have found that the global health disparities of COVID-19 vaccines have been an ongoing issue even today. The important ethically important issues on COVID-19 vaccines are negligence of vaccines due to political instability to those in poverty. Other issues that include the dangerousness of herd immunity, the speediness to have the vaccine available and the concern of clinical experiments. Global health disparities of the vaccine affect a large population. The purpose of receiving the vaccines is to protect the common good. The COVID-19 vaccine should be provided to the poor and vulnerable and receiving the vaccine even for those globally. Reasearch Findings The lack of investment, vaccine manufacturer, and market revenues are a few reasons why many diseases do not have available vaccines. But the real concern is why was it so quickly approved? The average vaccine takes years to make and there has not been successful vaccines for some infectious diseases (Henk, 2022). Will its quickness affect us in the long run? Henk states, “Fears that corners have been cut, and safety and ethical standards sacrificed for speed, have contributed to conspiracy beliefs and vaccine hesitancy” (Henk, 2022). The author also 3 points out that it is unknown how long the vaccines will provide immune response or how long it will last (Henk, 2022). The ethical issue of the danger of the COVID-19 vaccine may come with because of its urgency it is now questionable if there will be long-term side effects. In the book “Coronavirus Disease” Rezaei describes the process of how vaccines are formed against different pathogens. For vaccine development for COVID-19, Rezaei explains the research and technologies that go into making the vaccine and its efforts to have it available urgently. It was that only the vaccine was the most effective in efforts to reduce new cases and control death rates during the crisis (Rezaei, 2021). There is a raise of question that is for public debate of ethical justice for immunity and protection weather it is induced by the vaccine or by natural infection over time (Rezaei,