| Modern liberal opinion is sensitive to
problems of restriction of freedom and abuse of power.{{U}} (1) {{/U}},
many hold that a man can be injured only by violating his will, but this view is
much too{{U}} (2) {{/U}}. It fails to{{U}} (3) {{/U}}the great
dangers we shall face in the{{U}} (4) {{/U}}of biomedical technology
that stems from an excess of freedom, from the unrestrained{{U}} (5)
{{/U}}of will. In my view, our greatest problems will be voluntary
self-degradation, or willing dehumanization, as is the unintended yet often
inescapable consequence of sternly and successfully pursuing our humanization{{U}}
(6) {{/U}}. Certain{{U}} (7) {{/U}}and perfected medical technologies have already had some dehumanizing consequences. Improved methods of resuscitation have made{{U}} (8) {{/U}}heroic effort? to "save" the severely ill and injured. Yet these efforts are sometimes only partly successful: They may succeed in{{U}} (9) {{/U}}individuals, but these individuals may have sever brain damage and be capable of only a less-than-human, vegetating{{U}} (10) {{/U}}. Such patients have been{{U}} (11) {{/U}}a death with dignity. Families are forced to bear the burden of a{{U}} (12) {{/U}}"death watch". {{U}} (13) {{/U}}the ordinary methods of treating disease and prolonging life have changed the{{U}} (14) {{/U}}in which men die. Fewer and fewer people die in the familiar surroundings of home or in the{{U}} (15) {{/U}}of family and friends. This loneliness, {{U}}(16) {{/U}}, is not confined to the dying patient in the hospital bed. As a group, the elderly are the most alienated members of our society: Not yet{{U}} (17) {{/U}}the world of the dead, not deemed fit for the world of the living, they are shunted{{U}} (18) {{/U}}. We have learned how to increase their years, {{U}}(19) {{/U}}we have not learned how to help them enjoy their days. Yet we continue to bravely and feverishly push back the frontiers{{U}} (20) {{/U}}death. |