Sex Reassignment and Issues of Genetic Cloning - Essay Example

Sex reassignment Sex reassignment is the process of altering the gender identity of an individual (Green and Money 20). This is achieved through genital organs reconstruction. A male genital organ is reconstructed to resemble that of a female and the vice versa. Biologically born male whose genital organs are reconstructed to a female is referred to as transwoman while a biologically born female whose genital organs are reconstructed to that of a male is referred to as transman (Witt 12). Sex reassignment is a human technology issue that demands moral compass. Dalai Lama is more concerned on the issues of genetic cloning than the rest of the writers in genetics and ethics. He argues that the gap amid moral reasoning and the technological advancement is at a critical point. Curious scientists and researchers have always aspired to acquire more knowledge on the issue of sexual reassignment. Scientists and researchers have to acquire extensive knowledge on sexual reassignment technology so as to be responsible on their deeds. This being an issue that that calls for a moral compass responsibility is a crucial issue. On the other hand, the members of the community need to be well-informed on the matter. The knowledge is widely available in print and electronic media. Various television and radio programs have been aired in discussing and creating awareness to the public. Website articles, blogs and magazines have been published to educate the general public on sexual reassignment. Once the scientist, researchers and the society acquire knowledge on this issue, it is their moral obligation to decide on the way forward, to support or reject the issue. Therefore, the relationship between knowledge and responsibility is a moral obligation (Witt 32). Sex reassignment is a technology that invokes unique moral questions (Green and Money 20). Such moral questions include; is it right to alter the gender of an infant without his/her consent? Is it right to alter ones gender while God has a purpose for creating a male or female? Does reconstructing of the genital organs to that of the opposite sex reconstruct hormonal and behavioral changes? Response to these moral questions calls for a heated debated among scientist and society; as a result, we can only attempt to answer them. It may not be morally right to for the parents to choose to alter the gender of their child at infancy stage. At this stage, the toddler does not recognize his/her genital status. Furthermore, the infant does not poses reasoning capability to decide what is right or wrong. God has a purpose for human kind. Christianity, Islam and other religion all agree on this point. It is morally incorrect to alter the sex of an individual. Altering the sex of an individual at infant stage does not necessarily alter the hormonal and behavioral changes. The transman or transwoman may adapt behavioral changes due to the fact that psychologically he/she will grow up in mind he is a male or female. A transwoman will tend to behave like a man and a transman will behave like a woman. Nevertheless, the hormonal and emotional changes may fail to respond to the new. In this case, sexual reassignment technology will be regarded as failed. Integrity and ethics are the basis for developing a moral compass. Transparency and accountability are the prerequisites of integrity. For an individual to be considered being a man of integrity, he/she must be accountable and transparent in his/her deeds. Ethics is the moral philosophy that determines what is right or wrong. A society that upholds integrity and ethics pose a moral compass. There is no universal morality. This has been contributed by factors such as traditions, cultural beliefs and modernization. Various communities have got their traditions and cultural beliefs. These hinders the global community to poses a universal morality since different traditions and cultural beliefs conflict. In the modern world, technology is the main platform through which activities are run. However, technology is not available in every corner of the globe mostly in the countryside. This hinders the availability a universal morality. There should be a universal morality to ensure that the global society reads from the same script in matters regarding technological innovations that demand moral compass. The society should always speak with one voice when such issues arise (Witt 48). The possible long term benefit for sex reassignment is that parents who authorize sex reassignment for their infant get psychological satisfaction. Short term benefit is that the medical practitioner performing the genital reconstruction gains economically. The sex reassignment technology is extremely costly. It costs hundreds of dollars. Thus, it is not affordable, only the rich can afford. Dalai Lama (30) states that Sex reassignment without individual consent cannot be of any benefit to an individual or the society at large. Technology assists the human kind in development and innovations. Through technology humankind has been able to come with innovations such as sex reassignment, organs transplant and plastic surgery. This can be regarded as a positive input to the life of human kind as far as organ transplant is concerned. Nevertheless, issues of sex reassignment and plastic surgery calls for a moral compass. It is wise to consider the issue of technology and genetics as a blessing rather than a curse to the society (Lama 57). Despite the commendation that the issue of sex reassignment faces, members of the society go for it. The upper class is only group in the society that can afford such technology due to the high expenditure related with it. The lower and middle class remains hopeful that one day they will be able to afford these technologies among them organ transplants and plastic surgery. This being an issue that calls for a moral compass, education to the society and the scientist is vital. Once the society acquires knowledge it is upon the members to exercise their moral obligation. Dalai Lama puts it that the fate of the human species and the entire ecosystem lies on the current society. Moral compass should include preservation of human sensitivity in regard to human values. Works cited Green, Richard and Money, John. Transsexualism and sex reassignment. Michigan, NY: Johns Hopkins press.2004. Print. Lama, Dalai. The universe in a single atom: The convergence of science and spirituality. New York: Crown publishing. 2006. Print. Witt, Charlotte. The metaphysics of gender. Oxford: oxford university press. 2011. Print. Read More