Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this dissertation, I grapple with the problem of global drug resistance and moral
responsibility which, as far as I am aware, has so far not been presented as a topic of
ethical inquiry. It represents a conundrum involving three major factors: microbial
adaptation and change, human social factors and environmental changes. Drug
resistance is a phenomenon in which certain microorganisms, when exposed to
antimicrobial agents, may acquire the beneficial trait of drug resistance which ensures
a better potential for their survival. The acquired trait of drug resistance I argue
renders such microorganisms 'supra-natural '. Supra-natural is a term I coin for
entities that have been imposed upon nature by human design; they do not follow the
natural evolutionary processes of adaptation and change. Drug resistance is classified
as an emerging infectious disease. Human social factors and environmental change
(particularly population growth, density and consumerist practices) enhance the rise
of emerging infectious diseases. Through such increasing destructive practices, stress
is placed on the environment. Environmental stress facilitates the rise of new and old
infectious diseases and the spread of drug resistant supra-natural microorganisms.
Thus, our ability to treat successfully illnesses and injuries in humans, animals and
plants is increasingly impaired. Morally, we are responsible for the problem of global
drug resistance. Drug resistant microorganisms exist in nature and concerning this,
we can do nothing. At best, we can only try to control the problem using prudential
measures. The problem of global drug resistance represents both a biomedical ethical
and an environmental ethical issue. Is there a way out of the human-nature debate?
Through Bryan Norton's enlightened anthropocentrism, I identify the ways in which
his thesis may be applied to the problem of human and environmental concerns and
show its applicability in broadening the parameters of biomedical ethics education to
include environmental concerns.
Key words: biomedical ethics, environmental ethics, drug resistance, Supra-natural'
microorganisms, ethics education, enlightened-anthropocentrism. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie proefskrif bespreek ek die probleem van die verskynsel dat mikroorganismes
op 'n globale skaal weerstand begin bied teen mediese middels (globale
middel-weerstandigheid) en die morele verantwoordelikheid wat dit oproep - 'n
probleem wat, na my beste wete, nog nooit aangebied is as 'n tema van etiesfilosofiese
ondersoek nie. Dit verteenwoordig 'n kompleks van drie belangrike
oorwegings: mikrobiese aanpassings en veranderinge, menslike sosiale faktore, en
omgewingsveranderinge. Middel-weerstandigheid is 'n verskynsel waarin sekere
mikro-organismes, wanneer hulle blootgestel word aan antimikrobiese agente, die (vir
hulself) voordelige kenmerk kan bekom van weerstandigheid teen die middel; iets wat
'n beter potensiaal vir hul eie oorlewing verseker. Hierdie bekomde kenmerk
(middel-weerstandigheid) maak, volgens my argument, sulke mikro-organismes
'supra-natuurlik'. Supra-natuurlik is 'n term wat ek munt vir entiteite wat aan die
natuur blootgestel is as gevolg van menslike ontwerp; hulle volg nie die natuurlike
evolusionêre prosesse van adaptasie en verandering nie. Middel-weerstandigheid
word geklassifiseer as 'n opkomende aansteeklike siekte. Menslike sosiale faktore en
omgewingsveranderinge (veral bevolkingsgroei, -digtheid and verbruikerspraktyke )
vergroot die opkoms van aansteeklike siektes. Deur sodanige toenemende
destruktiewe praktyke word stres geplaas op die omgewing. Omgewingstres fasiliteer
die opkoms van nuwe en ou aansteeklike siektes asook die verspreiding van
weerstandige supra-natuurlike mikro-organismes. Ons vermoë om siektes en
beserings van mense suksesvol te behandel, word gevolglik toenemend ondermyn.
Moreel gesproke is ons verantwoordelik vir die probleem van globale middelweerstandigheid.
Middel-weerstandige mikro-organismes bestaan in die natuur, en
aan daardie feit as sodanig kan ons niks doen nie. Ons kan, ten beste, probeer om die
probleem te beheer deur middel van verstandige maatreëls. Die probleem van globale
middel-weerstandigheid verteenwoordig sowel 'n biomedies-etiese as 'n
omgewingsetiese kwessie. Is daar 'n uitweg uit die mens-natuur debat? Ek
identifiseer, met 'n beroep op Bryan Norton se swak antroposentrisme, maniere
waarop sy tese toegepas sou kon word op die probleem van menslike en omgewingsoorgwegings
Ek wys ook op die toepaslikheid daarvan vir die verbreding van die
parameters van biomediese etiek-opvoeding ten einde omgewingsoorwegings deel
van lg. te maak. Kembegrippe: biomediese etiek, omgewingsetiek, middel-weerstandigheid, 'Supra- .
natuurlike' mikro-organismes, etiek-opvoeding, swak antroposentrisme.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/49936 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Knapp van Bogaert, Donna |
| Contributors | Van Niekerk, A. A. (Anton), Beyers, N. (Nulda), Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Philosophy. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 305 pages |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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