One of Janet Kourany’s main ideas in regards to the research and advancement of science, bioethics, and human enhancement is the concept of socially responsible science. As treatments and enhancements in humans increase and become more commonplace, the importance of the community becomes a larger part of the discussion. No longer is it only what is good for individual receiving medical assistance, but how does it affect the larger community and what are the positives and negatives of such actions and policies? She talks about reforming the code of ethics for scientists to include a greater consciousness of being socially responsible. And though some researchers may be prone to think of all the possibilities their research can add to the value of human life and the potential to cease human suffering, there is always the other side of human mentality that may use such work against humanity.
The idea of social responsibility seems obvious and ordinary; yet the reality of a scientific coup on ethics, research, policies, etc., will take a shift in the scientific worldview for scientists to fully agree on a particular way of doing things. Even if the majority agrees to a specific code, what happens to those who don’t follow it? Will it simply be a dismissal of their research publications, conference submissions, and outcast from the scientific society? Or will there be harsher punishments for lack of ethical conduct?
There are many more questions to be asked by outsiders, additional topics to be discussed within the community, and multiple answers yet to be formed by communities of people working for progression or regression in medical technology, bioethical research, human treatment and enhancement. Whether or not any conclusion is ever made, it can be said that Kourany’s social responsibility is something we can keep in mind when it comes to anything in life.