Introduction
Many studies and clinical research have the ultimate goal of treating cancer and preventing anyone from suffering from it. Each day, the technology and the knowledge that can help address this goal has surpassed expectations and had brought promising results.These studies and researches have likewise tried approaching cancer in multiple perspective and using various methods. However, one particular approach proved to catch the attention of many. A clinical research in Pennsylvania used genetically modified HIV to cure leukemia and other forms of cancer (Grady, 2012). This particular clinical research may daunt many due to the fact that a virus is used to cure cancer, but an assessment of this case may allow one to determine its potential and clear up any ethical concerns. This paper will likewise be dedicated to assessing this pediatric dilemma and discuss any ethical concern applicable.
Body
Dilemma Description
The clinical research at the University of Pennsylvania was spearheaded by Dr. Carl June. They utilized an experimental treatment that made use of HIV that had been modified and reprogrammed to help the body to recognize cancer cells and kill them. The patients that were invited to participate where cancer patients who were out of options and were considered to have no hope of recovering. Among these patients are a handful of children and adults who have different types of cancer. One of the patients is Emma Whitehead, who had leukemia, but had fully recovered. There were also many other patients who recovered while some had remission (Grady, 2012). Furthermore, provided are among the provisions or principles of the ANA Code of Ethics that are considered relevant in this pediatric dilemma.
ANA Code of Ethics Principles
The ANA Code of Ethics provides many principles that should be followed at all times. In the ANA Code of Ethics, it was explicitly stated that it is the primary commitment to care for the patient. It was also stated that the promotion of a patient’s safety and health is of importance.Additionally, advances in the profession should be done through inquiry and researches (2015).
ANA Code of Ethics and the Dilemma
There were reports that the patients underwent severe fever for days and had lost much weight. This scenario may not appear to be part of their cure, but it is among the challenges they should overcome. The experimental treatment urged the body to fight and their symptoms were signs that they were doing so (Martin, n.d.). Being committed to the patients was strongly shown in the experimental treatment.
Furthermore, this experimental study also displayed that the safety and health of the patients are important. They illustrated this by allowing only those with no options to take the trial. This emphasizes that they are compassionate about their patients—their experiment is not FDA approved and putting those who have the potential to be cured by other methods should be spared. Additionally, this attempt shows the dedication to advance a profession and help the patients. Many of the patients, even children, were cured and had started enjoying a normal life. However dangerous this experimental treatment is, it followed ethical guidelines and delivered promising results.
Conclusion
Experimental procedure such as this one is among the many clinical research directed to help humanity defeat cancer. The procedures and approach may seem daunting for some, but as long as they do not cross any ethical boundaries, cancer will be eventually defeated. Furthermore, it is advisable for ethical guidelines to expand their reach by reconsidering that medical procedures are evolving and they should evolve with them to prevent any blur in health care. After all, it is ethics that keep people from deviating from their goal to save humanity.
References
ANA. (2015). The New ‘Code of Ethics for Nurses With Interpretive Statements’ (2015): Practical Clinical Application.
Grady, D. (2012). In Girl’s Last Hope, Altered Immune Cells Beat Leukemia. The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
Martin, D. (n.d.). Using Altered HIV Cells, Leukemia Treatment Shows Long-Term Remissions. Aljazeera America. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
