Gene Manipulation Ethics: IMA Guidelines

The question requires completing a sentence about the conditions under which human gene manipulation is permissible according to the Indian Medical Association (IMA) ethical guidelines. The sentence states: "Under ethical guidelines recently adopted by the Indian Medical Association, human genes are to be manipulated only to correct diseases for which __________ treatments are unsatisfactory."

Reasoning for Correct Option

• The core idea is that gene manipulation is a last resort. It should only be considered when existing treatments are not effective enough.
• Let's examine the options in the context of "treatments are unsatisfactory":
  • Similar: "Similar treatments are unsatisfactory" doesn't convey the intended meaning of lacking any effective option.
  • Most: "Most treatments are unsatisfactory" is vague and doesn't specify if *any* effective treatment exists.
  • Uncommon: "Uncommon treatments are unsatisfactory" implies that common treatments might be satisfactory, contradicting the idea of gene manipulation as a last resort.
  • Available: "Available treatments are unsatisfactory" clearly indicates that the currently existing and accessible treatment options are insufficient, making gene manipulation a potential alternative for correcting the disease.
• Therefore, the word 'available' best fits the context, signifying that gene manipulation is considered only when existing treatments fail.

Conclusion

The completed sentence is: "Under ethical guidelines recently adopted by the Indian Medical Association, human genes are to be manipulated only to correct diseases for which available treatments are unsatisfactory." This aligns with the principle of using advanced interventions like gene manipulation only when standard medical options are inadequate.