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Is Gene Therapy Worth It? |
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Is Gene Therapy Worth It? |
A Web Quest Investigation of Gene Therapy Cancer Treatments
On September 17, 1999, eighteen year old Jesse Gelsinger died from a disastrous accident during a gene therapy trial. Suffering from OTC, ornithine transcarbamylase, deficiency, Jesse had been anxious to volunteer for the treatment. Victims of OTC deficiency lack a gene coding for the enzyme which breaks down nitrogen, thus resulting in the accumulation of such toxic substances as ammonia. When the opportunity for the gene therapy treatment became available, Jesse was too young to volunteer himself, and his parents were reluctant to permit his participation. However, when Jesse turned eighteen, he entered the study.
Since Jesse's death, the field of gene therapy has been scrutinized and criticized for the failure. Recent research advances have given the scientific community and the public new found hope. But still there exists much debate concerning the value and future of gene therapy.
A hospital board needs to make a decision about whether or not to approve the administration of gene therapy treatments for cancer patients. Before the decision can be made, the hospital board must consider the interests of all of the parties involved: the patient and family, the medical staff, the medical researchers designing the therapy, and the insurance company/financial provider.
For this reason, an advisory committee is established to investigate the concerns and desires of these groups of individuals. You are a member of this committee. As a committee, you must create a report explaining the advantages and disadvantages of administering the gene therapy treatments. The report should include the perspectives of all parties involved. Also included in your final assessment should be the answer to the question:
Should the hospital board approve the administration of the gene therapy cancer treatments?
1. Each of you will select one of the roles listed below.
2. Using the websites provided for that role, you must gain an understanding of the issue as a whole, and especially from the perspective of your role. Questions listed below your role will help you to develop this knowledge.
3. As a committee, you will then meet to discuss each perspective as they apply to the big question: Should the hospital board approve the administration of the gene therapy cancer treatments?
4. Finally, you must arrive at a consensus and formulate a final report to present your recommendation to the hospital board.
Click here to access a student worksheet that will assist you in creating your final report.
Click on the appropriate link to learn about your role!
Your final report to the hospital board will be evaluated based on the rubric linked below. Preview this rubric so that you know the basic criteria I will use in grading your work.
In your groups, you have discussed a very current and difficult issue. It is likely that one day some of you may be doctors, patients, family members, scientists, or part of a financial institution involved in gene therapy research and/or treatments. At this point in time, there are no "right" or "wrong" answers to the questions created by gene therapy. There exists only information that each of us must consider in deciding the best approach for ourselves and our families at the point in time when which we may be faced with such a decision. Since you now understand more about the risks, benefits, and financial constraints of gene therapy than most people, consider the following question:
Would you prefer to follow the course of gene therapy to hopefully cure some disease, or would you rather use more commonly prescribed treatments? Why or why not?
Credits:
DNA Blueprint:
Gerard R. Lazo. "DNA
#65." [Online Image] August 2, 2002. <http://academy.d20.co.edu/kadets/lundberg/images/biology/DNAblueprint.gif>
DNA Divider:
Doug Lundberg. "DNA #53." [Online Image] August 2,
2002. <http://academy.d20.co.edu/kadets/lundberg/images/biology/dna53.gif>
Teddy Bear:
Designed to a T. "Teddy10."
[Online Image] August 3, 2002. <http://www.designedtoat.com/teddybears.htm>
Chemist:
Studieverenging GEWIS clipart library. "Misc/chem4.gif" [Online
Image] August 3, 2002. <http://gewis.win.tue.nl/general/clipart/misc/chem4.gif>
Medicine:
Studieverenging GEWIS clipart library.
"Medical/meds.gif" [Online Image] August 3, 2002. <http://gewis.win.tue.nl/general/clipart/medical/meds.gif>
Introduction
Task Process Resources
and Roles
Evaluation Conclusion
Created By:
Kelly
Gallo
Science Teacher
Col. Zadok Magruder High School
Montgomery County Public Schools
Last updated August 25, 2002
