rhydra
18-05-2009, 04:17 PM
Health Service Journal (http://www.hsj.co.uk/why-not-cull-humans-too?/24205.article)
From way back on the 10th May 2001.
Nature is full of nasty surprises, and viruses mutate continuously;
there is every possibility that in the near future a lethal killer bug will emerge.How would the government, or indeed each of us, have reacted had HIV been transmitted by sneezing, or been as contagious as influenza?
Can there ever be ethical grounds for culling humans?
Logically the answer must be yes.
In principle, public authorities would be justified in culling if those infected with a lethal disease could not be isolated and the number expected to die as a result of not culling were greater than those to be culled.Whether any western government would ever have the courage to take such a drastic step remains questionable.
Meanwhile, would anyone care to speculate on whether such a contingency plan exists somewhere in the vaults at the Department of Health?
From way back on the 10th May 2001.
Nature is full of nasty surprises, and viruses mutate continuously;
there is every possibility that in the near future a lethal killer bug will emerge.How would the government, or indeed each of us, have reacted had HIV been transmitted by sneezing, or been as contagious as influenza?
Can there ever be ethical grounds for culling humans?
Logically the answer must be yes.
In principle, public authorities would be justified in culling if those infected with a lethal disease could not be isolated and the number expected to die as a result of not culling were greater than those to be culled.Whether any western government would ever have the courage to take such a drastic step remains questionable.
Meanwhile, would anyone care to speculate on whether such a contingency plan exists somewhere in the vaults at the Department of Health?