Saviour Siblings Debate

Saviour Siblings Debate A saviour sibling is a child who is born via pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). This shows any fatal diseases in embryo screening, to find a tissue type match for the existing sibling so that stem cell transplantation can take place with the newborns umbilical cord. Many people believe that this is unethical because it doesnt consider the newborns rights, or simply because some cannot understand what parents go through. This is often questioned because it is typically thought of as wrong and that it will lead to designer babies being born and that the sibling will be treated as a commodity. My response to this is that the arguments presented against saviour siblings are flawed, in that not allowing a saviour sibling to be created would result in deaths of many children worldwide and will therefore conclude that there is nothing unethical about it at all, rather its unethical to do the contrary. Since, would it not be unethical to fail to protect people who are able to be protected in this way, would avoiding this not mean we are posing a threat or harm to their life purposefully? In this essay I will discuss how creating a saviour sibling is ethical and parents are doing the most loving thing possible and providing the gift of life, but more importantly saving a life. The main argument against saviour siblings being an unethical procedure is that the dismissing of PGD will result in many childrens deaths, of which most could have been saved, if a saviour sibling was born. It is unethical to say that a child being brought into the world is for purpose only; it is much more than that. As Sheldon and Wilkinson point out, You have to have a very powerful reason to resist the means by which a childs life can be saved (p.533). They show that saying it is unethical because of a slim possibility the child may be treated differently is highly judgmental, and is not reason enough to dismiss the concept of saving lives. It is more unethical to not help someone who is severely ill; it would be allowing the pain to continue at your will. Those who choose to save a life are extremely loving and ethical to consider it in the first place, as it would be heartbreaking to watch a sick child and be helpless. No-one who has not been in that position is in any place to comment on it being unethical, saviour siblings are available as a last resort to save a life and reduce suffering where possible. Modern day medicine is created and technology advanced for these sorts of purposes. The argument defends the idea of a saviour sibling being ethical on the grounds that saving a life is always going to be better that not saving a life. That latter would be more unethical. The process involves motivation and so the parents are highly unlikely to be anything but supportive and loving throughout the process, and especially toward the new baby. Parents are faced with a hard decision of choosing ways to help their child, and when most options are exhausted saviour siblings can be the only option to severe illnesses. Overall, the circumstances surrounding them initially shows that they thought a life was worth fighting for and a saviour sibling would endure the same amount of care. It would be a strange thing to do of the parents, to then think of him/her as a purpose only since the result of saviour would oversee the so called means of existing only because of an end which is needed. In response to my argument, those who prohibit saviour siblings on ethical terms always stand by the main point that the child would be treated as a commodity since they would be unwanted after they have served a purpose of saving a sibling. The main concern is that it is unethical since the childs welfare and rights are not taken into consideration and would be treated differently especially if the saviour sibling was to end up not saving their life. How would the parents then treat the child? Some say that they would see it as a failure, and love it less because he/she did not fulfill their sole purpose of benefiting the sibling. This leads onto the next point, that saviour siblings are treated as a means to an end and this is extremely unethical to do so. It is wrong to create children under certain proposals for an outcome, and Kants Dictatum points this out, Never use people as a means, but always treat them as an ends(Harris, p.398). Treating the child as a means of saving a sibling, rather than an end in themselves is to create a child which is not done for a selfless reason and therefore unethical. If the child was to find out that this was why they existed, then he/she would certainly have psychological problems as they would always wonder what its life would have been like had they not been born in this way. The problem is of course, that people do conceive children in this way, for means, since the only outcome of creating a saviour sibling is to help someone else. However it is rightly argued against it, that in by saying a childs life would be bad is unfair, since how would anyone be able to know this? Just because they were born under circumstances, does not mean that it would be so. There must be a valid reason for saying this, or be able to at least show why this would be true. And more to the point, how by denying a saviour sibling on ethical terms is more harmful than children dying; it couldnt be that it is worse. As seen here, Psychological research studies have identified that children brought up through assisted reproduction technology have just as close a loving relationship with parentsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦(Harris, p.399). No parent would go through the pain of it just to end up treating the saviour sibling as an object, or in an unmoral way. There would be more love for him/her, and equally no reason to just treat them as an end to suffering, but rather as a blessing in itself that they have a new child to love and one which has helped their other child. No one ever seems to question the motives of people who have children to save failing marriages, or to have a brother or sister for their current childs benefit of having someone to play with. These are surely more trivial reasons, which apparently are more acceptable than those, which save lives. It is wrong to say creating a saviour sibling to save a life is unethical but creating a child for instrumental purposes suiting the parents is ok, it only benefits the parents needs, but a saviour sibling will always benefit everyone. Aside from the views argued, there are further implications. The main consideration is that its unclear as to what should constitute as an unethical reason for having a saviour sibling, and who is to be judge of this. Certainly though, it cant be said that saviour siblings cause parents to pick designer characteristics such as blue eyes and brown hair, since there are regulations in place which would never allow this for this procedure. Freeman states, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦PGD was developed it was envisaged that embryos would be selected for their own intrinsic merit and not for utility to another person (Harris, p.391). This intrinsic merit must be to save a life and live as a healthy child, and not to please the parents by having certain designer features to their future child. Much thought goes into these views, and it would mean that it would be just as much of a thoughtful process for parents. It is never the case that a parent endures the process of saviour sibling creation for characteristic means or to then treat the child as a sole purpose only. There is no moral or ethical equal between a saviour sibling and producing a child for designer reasons, as that would be an insignificant purpose. It is not the done thing by good parents, it is not in their nature and they would not have considered the process had they been uncaring, unethical and non-loving. Parents are hard done by this criticism of not taking into consideration their childs welfare and all possible problems. The benefit of saving a life is always going to surpass reasons of saviour siblings being born as a commodity with no proof of how they will live; it has little substance to the question of it being unethical. I would challenge anyone to deny the views and processes a parent goes thr ough, when their child is dying in front of them, not one reason could be more unethical than not saving a life when it is possible.

Life as a parole officer Essay

For my interview, I interviewed Tiffany Sanders, from the Johnston County Adult Probation Parole office located in Smithfield NC. Before my interview I came up with ten questions to ask Mrs. Sanders during our interview. After my interview with Mrs. Sanders, I have come to the conclusion that I would love to be a probation or parole officer. One question I asked Mrs. Sanders was â€Å"what are the job functions of a parole officer?† Based on Mrs. Sander’s comments, Parole officers are given a caseload of people on parole in which she is required to supervise and guide them through their period of release into the community. A parole officer is also responsible for investigating paroles that violate the rules and testify at court hearings when paroles violate their parole. Another question that I asked Mrs. Sanders was â€Å"what are the pros and cons to being a parole officer?† Mrs. Sanders replied to this question with, â€Å"I love my job as a parole officer. Every day I come into this officer with my own special goal to help someone get on the right track and turn their life around.† So to answer the questions, some pros to being a parole officer is that you get to enjoy helping others but that could also be your con to a parole officer job. If you enjoy helping others it may be hard for you to cope with failure when you have a parole that refuses to do better. Another con to being a parole officer is the fact that you get benefits and the job is always in high demand due to the number of offenders. As I left the office of Mrs. Sanders I could still hear her recommendations to me if I wanted to be a parole officer. Mrs. Sanders recommended that if I wanted to be a parole officer then to make sure that I was dedicated and committed to the job. She feels that being a parole officer can be quit discouraging when you see someone fail that you have tried so hard to rehabilitate. It is always best to not get emotionally involved with your job and to follow all guidelines and rules to keep from doing so. I really enjoyed this week’s assignment because I have always had an interest in being a probation or parole officer. After my interview with Mrs. Sanders I now know that this would be the perfect job for me because I love to help people and I feel that criminals can change their ways with support and the right guidance.

White Collar Crimes (Embezzlement)

Introduction I’m here to talk about the dangers of embezzlement. Throughout my discussion I will discuss the underlying factor to the rise in the rate of embezzlement. We will also look at how a few big embezzlement schemes have influenced their business and their business’s industry. Because of this growing threat we will look at some factors that perpetrators are affected by that might influence him/her to commit company theft which can aid to help further prevent and detect company theft.Lastly I will discuss some preventable measures and steps companies can take to further detect criminal activity within their business, specifically employees who handle cash flow. What is Embezzlement? So what is embezzlement? The federal bureau of investigation defines embezzlement as the misappropriation or misapplication of money or property entrusted to one’s care, custody, or control. Embezzlement in Businesses (What is Embezzlement? ) – General and Relevant Facts All types and sizes of businesses can be victims to embezzlement (small/large businesses as well as non-profit and government entities).Businesses have to be vigilant when dealing with criminal activity which is especially true for small businesses. The Association for Certified Fraud has found that 39% of all fraud occurred in companies with fewer than 99 employees. Up to an astonishing 30% of small businesses fail due to criminal activity. It is estimated that small businesses faces on average $190,000 loss due to embezzlement compared to the $159,000 for average sized businesses. Why is it rising?It isn’t a disputed fact that the rate of criminal activity increases during a time of economic recession and in difficult economic conditions, businesses are struggling to compete for fewer business opportunities. This creates an incentive for companies to deviate from proper business practices and engage in fraudulent activity to maintain revenue. This idea can be depicted in t his quote, â€Å"Some individuals, especially small business owners, become obsessed with a failing business endeavor, cannot walk away from it, and will go to ‘extraordinary’ measures to keep the business going† (Lindquist & Goldberg, 2009)There was evidence of an increase in company theft during the economic downturns of 1987, 1991, and 2001. For example just after the savings and loans crisis in the 1990s arrests shot up by 52% and during the recession in the early 2000s criminal activity increased by 25% From this we can conclude that there is definitely a correlation between a recession and a rise in embezzlement. Impacts of embezzlement According to David O’ Friedrichs, a criminal justice professor at University of Scranton stated â€Å"white-collar crimes have further, reaching, deeper and more lasting impact than street crime. Thefts by employees are of the most costly problems facing new and existing businesses. Experts have shown company theft h as the potential to reach 240$ billion dollars which includes intellectual property stolen during that year. It isn’t a surprise that the cost of embezzlement is two to three times than that of street crimes. Also 30-50% of all businesses affected by embezzlement fail. Other potential effects include increase in taxes, lost investments, and increase in unemployment. Guarantee Building & Loan AssociationOn December 9th, 1930 Gilbert, the founder of Guarantee Building & Loan Association was found to have embezzled an estimated $8,000,000 which in today’s amount would be $100,000,000. Many local businesses and individuals were crushed by his embezzlement scheme. According to TIME Magazine â€Å"no less than 2,500 Guaranty depositors have gone to the poorhouse or the insane asylum, some 30 have committed suicide†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This example demonstrates the extreme ripple effects of a multi-million dollar scheme. Commonwealth Building & Loan AssociationDuring the winter of 1955, Minnie Magnum, the assistant secretary-treasurer was accused of misappropriated an estimated 3 million dollars (36 million dollars in today’s amount). This scheme was highly publicized because the scheme lasted for up to 22 years before detection. This demonstrates the evasive nature of embezzlement. In the end the Commonwealth Building & Loan Association had to file for bankruptcy. This is only one of the many businesses that fail due to embezzlement. Brunei’s Battle Royale Brunei is a small country that consists of 300,000.Their council consisted of people in royalty with high positions in their government and key businesses. It became a big story when Prince Jefri Bolkiah was accused of embezzling billions from the state treasury and his businesses. Not only was he the finance minister for his country, he also was the chairman of the Brunei Investment Agency, and head of Amedeo Group which pretty much increased his opportunity for criminal activity. John M. Ca llagy, a lawyer who represents Amedeo Hotels Ltd. , estimated Prince Jefri to have siphoned off $40 billion. The small country of Brunei needs the mission billions to help recast its economy.This example demonstrates how even government entities can also be vulnerable to theft. Behavioral Characteristics of White Collar Criminals Now that we have a better grasp on the dangers of a multi-million/billion dollar embezzlement scheme we can go onto discussing what exactly motivates perpetrators to steal from their company. Dr. Donald R. Cressey believes understanding factors that influence white collar criminals to steal from their company can manifest in helping society create better procedures to reduce the rate of embezzling during an economic recession.Dr. Cressey believes there are internal and other factors when it comes to why people violate company trust. The classic fraud triangle theory can also aid us in realizing the mentality behind company theft by employees. The fraud tria ngle theory states that there must be three basic elements for fraud to come about – they are opportunity, incentive/pressure, and rationalization/attitude. The classic fraud triangle theory can be linked to behavioral characteristics of white collar criminals. Internal Factors (Incentive/Pressure)An internal factor or conflict that an embezzler faces when he makes the decision to commit the crime is based behind the idea of personal failure. For example if an individual loses the majority of his savings because of a gambling addiction, Dr. Cressey believes that individual will commit to embezzling because he/she has too much self-respect and pride to tell his family, friends, and company (employer) of how he exhausted all his money. So to continue to support his friends and family financial he has a greater incentive/pressure to steal from his company to support his lifestyle.Other â€Å"personal failures† include shopping addiction, substance abuse, entrepreneurial f ailure, investment failure etc. â€Å"Other† Factors (Rationalization/Attitude) Other factors that influence employees to commit company theft is based on the idea behind entitlement belief – he/she believes they are more deserving of the money which ties in with the attitude element of the classic fraud triangle theory. Other factors also include financial need, supporting a personal business, and supporting a significant other which ties in with the rationalization element.How do we tie these factors to preventing and detecting? As of now there is not enough data to fully explain the embezzlement phenomenon in a psychological stand point. The psychologies behind these factors as well as the classic fraud triangle theory is essential and should be dissected further to better create procedures to help reduce the rate of embezzlement. I believe once enough research is done there can be changes to the hiring strategies for prospective employees. Preventing and Detecting: The Steps How society views white collar crimes have slowly been evolving.In the past many people viewed white collar crimes to be victimless; that perpetrator did not deserve a long prison sentence. Nowadays we understand how dangerous and harm a huge embezzlement scheme can inflict. The shift in society’s mentality behind white collar crimes emphasizes the need for polices to be implemented to safeguard against potential scandals especially during an economic recession. Step 1: Create a Policy Many companies think it is unnecessary to create a policy that states stealing is wrong.In reality this step is one of the most important and effective step a company can take to diminish company theft. Creating a policy against company theft helps creates the idea that the company is always aware of their employees and that they will not tolerate criminal activity within the workplace. Secondly, this is important because there are grey areas and company theft needs to be defined. Ex amples can include not knowing when to actually charge the company credit card to pay for meals or using the company phone for certain calls, etc.Step 2: Creating Checks and Balances One of the biggest reasons small companies are more vulnerable to embezzlement is because they do not have checks and balances that established businesses have. For example they could be a recently established business and there can be a few or one employee controlling the majority of the positions that handle cash flow. This creates a bigger opportunity for that employee to embezzle money from the company. Creating checks and balances decreases the opportunity element.One checks and balances procedures a company can commit to is a separation of duties as implied earlier. Meaning different people should handle different positions within the business. Companies should designate different employees who deal with cash receipts and deposits, cash disbursements and electronic fund transfer operations, and ba nk reconciliation. Another effective control procedure includes internal audit procedures for monitoring cash, accounting for transactions, and preparation of financial statement. Companies can also cross-train employees, require vacation time, reate a periodic financial check for their employees, and separate and monitor payroll functions to help decrease the overall rate of embezzlement in our economy. In general, the company should â€Å"follow the cash trail. † Step 3: Inspecting your employees Focusing on finding the right employee for a position is extremely important, especially for a position that handles cash flow. Some tools companies can use to help them along the hiring process would be using an employment agency. Administering drug and background checks. Of course monitoring employees does not stop there.Inspecting your employees should be an on-going process. Companies can hire an independent CPA to provide a periodic audit of dual controls and theft prevention which allows for better scrutiny of their employees because they will not know when they are going to be investigated. Lastly the company can review employee expense reports to check for illegal spending. Step 4: Setting an example/practicing zero tolerance Setting an example for people who have embezzled money can be an effective method to help deter others from doing the same.Conclusion Now that we realize there is a growing threat for the rise in the rate of embezzlement, there is a stronger emphasis for the need of companies to establish the controls procedures to help prevent and detect embezzlement. Hopefully in the future there will be more studies on the behavioral traits of embezzlers which can be a very important to helping finding the right candidate for a position. Companies without crime prevention and detection measures are sure to be more susceptible to business failure.

The Importance Of A Training Program For An Obstacle Race

If you re thinking about your first obstacle race like the Tough Mudder or the Spartan Race, you know it ll involve a unique training program. Even if you re a fit athlete, you need to prepare yourself for the challenges, which are unlike other types of races. First, think about the kind of race you ll be doing. There will be mud, cold water as well as chances for climbing, crawling and jumping. It s a strain on the body and the mind. It ll test your endurance and your mental fortitude. Most of those reasons are why people want to participate in an obstacle race, but that means it takes a different kind of workout routine and training in the weeks before the race. You can t expect to jump into the course and complete it because you ve been running regular races. The most fit athlete should still allow 4 to 6 weeks of training before jumping into their first obstacle course race. Endurance Building Whether you re a runner or not, you should be building up your endurance before the race. Instead of running a few miles each day on a treadmill, you ll need to challenge yourself to uneven terrain. It ll create a fatigue, which you won t experience on a treadmill. Your aerobic endurance will be tested during the race. It might seem like it ll be less work because you ll be running between obstacles, but it s combined with other tasks, so it can still be a few miles of race. Example Exercises: Non-stop intervals on the treadmill Take the hill workShow MoreRelatedConquering Endurance Running: Minimizing Risk and Running Injury Free1200 Words   |  5 Pagescomprehend how someone could run, consistently, for 4.5 hours.The actual marathon is simply a formality as the journey starts the day training begins. The outcome, the day of the marathon, is dependent on how successful the training program was executed. Long distance runners are the biggest advocates of the sport, always convincing others to jump on the training wagon. However, some runners, while they refuse to admit it, ponder if the effects of long distance running could be doing more damageRead MoreA Little History On The U.s. Department Of Veterans Affairs And The Veterans Health Administration981 Words   |  4 Pagessystems in the world In addition they responsible for providing training to the majority of America’s medical, nursing, and allied health professionals. This account roughl y for more 60 percent of all medical residents whom obtain a portion of their training at VA hospitals and our medical research programs benefit society at-large. Today’s VHA continues to meet Veterans’ changing medical, surgical, and quality of life needs. New programs provide treatment for traumatic brain injuries, post-traumaticRead MoreA Personal Statement Of Purpose1484 Words   |  6 PagesStatement of Purpose Too often people are faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles early on in life. We often don’t realize the extent of the difficulties even when we may be aware of the problem itself. Factors like race, socioeconomic status and whether a person is born with a disability impact one’s ability to successfully navigate the obstacles they face. The interplay of these factors often creates situations where the individual is unlikely to succeed. While my Psychology has been unwaveringRead MoreThe Red Black by Stendhal1656 Words   |  7 Pagesthis has resulted in a decline in minority enrollment. The University of Georgia’ss mission states that it is to â€Å"provide for cultural, ethinic, gender, and racial divesity in the faculty, staff, and student body.† UGA has come to recognize the importance of diversity in a student’s education. It is significant because it enriches the educational experience as we learn from different perspectives; promotes personal growth as it challenges stereotypes; and strengthens communities as it fosters mutualRead MoreEthics And Diversity : The Case Study Analysis, Resolutions And Personal Bias1589 Words   |  7 Pagesin the value and dignity of each human being, recognizes the importance of the search of truth, devotion to excellence, and the nurturing of the democratic principles. The importance of these goals are the protection of freedom to learn and to teach, al so the guarantee of equal educational opportunity for all. The educator accepts the responsibility to embrace to the highest ethical standards. The educator needs to know the importance of responsibility inherent in the teaching process. The wishRead MoreThe Young Women s Christian Organization Traces Essay1385 Words   |  6 Pagesmy local area that I chose to write about is the YWCA. The Young Women’s Christian Organization traces its roots back to the Victorian Era England, where two separate organizations, Emma Robart’s prayer Union and Mary Jane Kinnard’s General Female Training Institute, were chartered in 1855. As the industrial revolution brought sweeping changes to establish ideology of women’s place in the home, these two initiatives shared a concern, for the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of women and girlsRead MoreStrategic Analysis : Strategic Human Resource Management Essay1426 Words   |  6 Pagesstrategy and is evolving in the workplace. Since change is inevitable, it makes sense that HRM would try to take a pro-active step and forecasting for the future is one stra tegic way to plan rather than yesterday’s thoughts of simply recruiting, training, and employee benefits. Another example that requires implementation of SHRM is of the aging workforce. Analysis and data must be conducted to determine how this new shift could affect the organization and what changes, if any, need to happen toRead MoreLaw Enforcement And The Community1529 Words   |  7 Pageshinders the effectiveness of police officers. There are several approaches to improve the relationship between police officers and the community. Some of these approaches include community policing, use of force, body-worn cameras, and specialized training requirements for police officers, among others. At some point in the history of the United States, citizens had a fearful yet healthy respect for law enforcement officers. That respect is a vital part of the responsibility that comes from livingRead MorePublic Health Campaign Essay1047 Words   |  5 PagesAfrican-American population and unfortunately a very high number of residents living in poverty. With a recent surge in the diagnosis of breast cancer in younger African-American women, the campaign incorporates younger women so awareness can be raised on the importance of worthy breast health, early mammogram exams and detection at an early age (AbdelHadi, 2006). TARGET AUDIENCE INVOLVEMENT We can all agree that it is impossible to elucidate any health problem cosmetically. To accurately comprehend those factorsRead MoreHow to Teach during a Tragegy939 Words   |  4 Pageschildren we teach. But sometimes, especially in the face of an endless stream of heartbreaking problems, that are out of our control, love isn’t enough. It’s sometimes tough to remain empathetic while being constantly bombarded with insurmountable obstacles to our students’ success. Even outside of extraordinary events like natural disasters, teachers in New Orleans and around the country are fighting an uphill battle each day to make a difference in the lives of children who are often growing up impoverished