Following the cochlear implant workshop and ethics lecture, I felt inclined to reflect on the perspective of a cochlear implant user. While there are 12 million deaf people in the UK, this figure is set to increase, and there are still not many strategies to accommodate for non-hearers. The only emerging help I have witnessed are the use transcripts at the cinema, conferences or for some university lectures and also offering adjustments on work applications. I am interested in this area primarily due to unfamiliarity, I was uneducated on this area before attending the cochlear implant lecture and workshop within this module.

Furthermore, the cochlear implant is an outstanding technology, but it has its disadvantages such as reimplantation and inability for some users to perceive musical frequencies. Instead of promoting the invasive procedure, I believe that society should make implement compulsory practices like learning sign language in school to slowly accommodate for a growing community. This led me to the question ‘Are cochlear implants a sound decision?‘.

A utilitarianist would encourage non-hearers to undergo this invasive procedure to benefit the ‘greater good’, being the vast number of people that do not have impaired hearing; one person undergoing a procedure is easier than educating millions. To develop my understanding on user experience, I decided to send 8 questions to someone I know has undergone cochlear implant surgery. The questions and answers provided by Participant A are attached below.

After receiving feedback on Participant A’s experience, my perspective on this area has changed in a number of ways. I definitely agree that there needs to be more education about the implants, how they work etc. The answers provided also educated me of the fact that every user’s experience is different. I was surprised to discover the opinions surrounding cochlear implants are not generalised – Participant A stated it has helped a lot in day-to-day life while surprisingly some members in the deaf community condemn others for choosing to perceive the world audibly. Another relevant point to address is the taboo surrounding ‘deaf voices’. This unfamiliarity led me of this TikTok video uploaded by Tasha Ghouri, titled ‘Embracing my death accent‘. She recorded the entire video with her processor disconnected and made comments like ’embrace your uniqueness and show up as the person you are, no one else is you’. It is therefore important to be educated on the reality of non-hearers and encourage inclusivity.

Conclusive reflection

I really appreciated the input from Participant A and the answers encouraged me to reflect more on strategies to relieve the social drawbacks deaf people may experience. If it were in the to position I would encourage the following to meet the demands of those with impaired hearing: (1) subtitles or transcripts used for all forms of content, during live speeches etc., (2) sign language translator app, (3) patient experience talks in primary education to develop a surface-level understanding on many peoples’ reality.

To conclude, this relates to sonder and relativism, human reality is personalised and based on each person’s life experience and perspectives. Because of this it is important to be educated and offer small efforts where we can to make life easier for everyone. Most importantly, I would say that cochlear implants are a sound decision for better quality of life. The emerging technologies help bridge the disconnect between some deaf people and the ‘hearing world’ by enabling easier communication.

References

RNID. (2023). Prevalence of deafness and hearing loss. [online] Available at: https://rnid.org.uk/get-involved/research-and-policy/facts-and-figures/prevalence-of-deafness-and-hearing-loss/.

Ärzteblatt, D.Ä.G., Redaktion Deutsches (2018). Cochlea-Implantat: HNO-Ärzte stellen Weißbuch und Register vor. [online] Deutsches Ärzteblatt. Available at: https://www.aerzteblatt.de/archiv/198928/Cochlea-Implantat-HNO-Aerzte-stellen-Weissbuch-und-Register-vor.

“”Peace” in ASL colourful” Canvas Print for Sale by procrastimake | Redbubble

Genetically Modified Humans

I’m sure we’ve all heard of Superman, right? Well, he was made in something called the Genesis Chamber on Krypton. This facility housed the fetuses of the future population of Krypton, all the genes kept all in one place to carry out artificial gestation. This made me think about how one could customise their baby using gene editing. The type of technology required to do this is no longer science fiction but a reality. Known as CRISPR/Cas9, this gene editing technology can efficiently remove and insert genes from the genome of a live organism by using the enzyme Cas9. For example, Chinese scientists have found a way to conduct genetic modification on human embryos, essentially creating GM humans!

The 4 Views of Ethics

Without realising things like this are currently possible, it made me wonder about the moral philosophies that must have been considered in order to carry out these experiments. The virtue of a concept lies in its purpose and in this case, the use of gene editing to customise children is not necessarily being used for “good” but, if used for the purpose of improving quality of crops or eliminating hereditary diseases, it would be virtuous. The value of the concept is, however, subjective. There will be disagreements where people use their influence for their own agendas instead of backing the rights of people. Utilitarianism should also be considered when deciding whether or not to implement these advancements. Maximising goodness for the majority whilst minimising suffering is key to overcoming these moral dilemmas. Would the pros outweigh the cons?

The Good and The Bad

Advantages include immunity and eradication of diseases, particularly those with genetic causes. There maybe be no need for prosthetics if all human genomes are edited to be strong, tolerant and have the potential for regeneration. Editing features such as appearance could reduce societal disparities by enabling individuals to select traits deemed desirable by prevailing standards, potentially mitigating existing inequalities but potentially introducing new ones. However, this raises concerns about the erasure of racial and minority identities. Novelists like Kazuo Ishiguro have warned that gene editing could foster a class of genetically superior individuals. As a person of colour, I can see how this, if in the wrong hands, could exacerbate discrimination, prejudice, and already existing predispositions against minorities. Moreover, homogenization of traits could impede evolutionary progress, as diversity often facilitates species survival. Limitations of the technology, including unforeseen alterations in the genome and ambiguities surrounding informed consent, further complicate its ethical implementation. Questions arise regarding the societal integration of this concept, including considerations of accessibility, potential capitalization, and resultant inequalities. Determining who gains access and addressing disparities are crucial considerations in navigating the ethical complexities of genetic editing’s societal implementation.

Conclusion

To summarise, the idea of using gene editing has good underlying justifications, for example when used for the purpose of creating more tolerant genomes and reducing disease. However, it can easily be manipulated to feed the agendas of corporate powerhouses and create larger inequalities across society, reducing diversity and what it means to be human. I went into this thinking it was very cool concept but was far too futuristic to even be considered. Having found out that scientists have already modified human embryos alarmed me so what I thought would revolutionise the world to make it better for generations to come, in hindsight, may not be as glamorous as I thought.

The idea of prosthetic limbs has always fascinated me. Hi-tech robotic arms and legs can always be seen in fictional media. Due to our current advancement in technologies, we have started to see many of these fictional prosthetics become a reality. We now have sensors that can detect signals from muscle movement or the nervous system. We have motors that can produce enough torque for most daily use while also being small enough to fit on a human body. We have mind-controlled robotics arms now.

Some problems I have noticed from seeing these bionic prosthetics are that 1. while these prosthetics can be controlled just by thinking, they are somewhat slow and unresponsive. 2. since these prosthetics use delicate sensors and motors while replacing the arms and legs which are usually used for physically taxing tasks, they might require frequent maintenance.

And while I believe that if we continue to develop these technologies further, eventually we will be able to create prosthetics that have the same, even exceed the functionality of human arms, we need an alternative approach to prosthetic limbs before we get to that point.

What do I mean by “mechanical approach”

Mechanical prosthetics are prosthetics that function by using the patient’s movement. For example, these old prosthetic hands shown in the picture below.

This prosthetic hand has wires that connect the claw “hand” to the elbow of the patient which allows the claw to open and close by using the bending movement of the elbow. This prosthetic, while old and somewhat inhuman looking, allows the patient to regain some functionality of their hand with the added sturdiness of the metal claw. This is a great example of what I believe to be the main advantage of this type of prosthetics. There are also some other modern examples of inventors using this “mechanical” approach to create highly functional prosthetics without the need for sensors or motors.

Ian Davis, a mechanical engineer and the biggest inspiration for me writing this blog post, was able to design and build his own mechanical partial hand prosthetics, which use the movement of his wrist to not only open and close but also spread as well. He has now improved it to include multiple finger settings, for example closing his hand while keeping the index finger extended.

Another inventor I would like to talk about is David Aguilar. He was able to create his own arm prosthetic using Legos! His prosthetic is really similar to the old claw hand in the picture above, but he has built multiple arms with slight variations that allow for different uses. Some of them even have simple motors which allow them to have more force and handle heavier loads.

My opinion

The apparent downside of this “mechanical” approach is that the patients must still have some function in their limbs to be able to use these prosthetics. Ian Davis still has his palm and thumb and David Aguilar still has functionality in his elbow. Even then, I still believe that it still has potential uses worth exploring.

Every cell within our body begins as a stem cell, from immune cells to our neurons and play an integral part of human development. There are many different types of stem cell, which are divided up into 4 classes: totipotent, pluripotent, multipotent and unipotent. Totipotent stem cells are cells that can differentiate into any type of cell, but pluripotent cells can differentiate into most, but not all cell types. Multipotent stem cells are more specific than pluripotent stem cells, but can still differentiate into a few different cell types, and Unipotent stem cells can only become one type of stem cell. Pluripotent stem cells or more specifically embryonic stem cells, are most widely used in stem cell treatment.

When considering prosthetics, our minds often gravitate towards their application in human medicine. Yet, what about our beloved canine companions? Yes, dogs receive prosthetic limbs too! Although dogs with an amputation can continue to lead fulfilling lives, relying solely on their remaining limbs over time can lead to problems such as Osteoarthritis. This is where canine prosthetics come into play, offering a solution to enhance their mobility and overall well-being.

Canine amputation

The most common causes for canine amputations include: Neoplasia, severe trauma, ischemic necrosis, and in most cases osteosarcoma which affects over ten-thousand dogs each year in the United States, and the amputation of limbs is widely accepted as the preferred treatment in canines.

Where amputation becomes the only viable option to preserve the animal’s life, prosthetics offer a crucial alternative to euthanasia. Beyond just saving the life of the dog, prosthetics also serve to prevent additional deterioration of existing joints, boost exercise and activity levels and enable an improved execution of daily life activities.

Canine prosthetics

Canine prosthetics draw inspiration from human prosthetic technology. Just as with human prosthetics, crafting a limb for a dog demands meticulous attention to materials, design and alignment to ensure it meets it’s functional needs. Analyzing the way dogs walk, run, and jump allows us to create a limb that distributes weight correctly and provides adequate shock absorption, minimizing impact on the body. Similar to humans adjusting to limb prosthetics, dogs also require time to adapt, necessitating regular vet check-ups to ensure the prosthetic is well-suited and the dog is adjusting adequately.

While researching this topic I discovered that most canine limb prostheses can be classified in two types- Exo-prosthesis and Endo-exo prosthesis:

Common complications are manageable and include pressure sores which can be alleviated by providing padding near the affected area. Additionally, in cases where the dog underwent surgery to install it’s prosthesis infections can occur after surgery but are treatable with antibiotics. Although manageable, smaller dog breeds may face heightened complications. This surprised me as I did not think that dog breeds would be an individual factor that would affect the outcome. To address this, smaller breeds often opt for lighter metal, such as aluminum, for thier prosthetics to mitigate potential challenges.

For dogs with hind leg amputations, dog wheelchairs present an alternative, more economical option. These wheelchairs offer support to amputee pets, aiding in balance and relieving weight on remaining limbs. Although in my perspective, dog wheelchairs carry limitations absent in prosthetic legs, rendering them outdated. They occupy space and can potentially hinder a dog’s natural mobility. Additionally, wheelchairs necessitate supervision and aren’t engineered for extended, unsupervised use. In contrast, prosthetic legs provide a sustainable, adaptable solution to address canine mobility impediments thus I feel like this is where funding and resources should go towards.

It could be argued that the resources and funding allocated towards enhancing technology for dog prosthetics could be redirected towards advancing human prosthetic technology. However, upon careful consideration, it becomes evident that investing in canine prosthetics holds substantial value. Not only do dogs play vital roles in many people’s lives as companions and service animals, but the innovations made in veterinary medicine may potentially pave the way for advancements in human medicine as well.

Heart failure is a condition that affects over 1 million people in the UK. According to the British Heart Foundation, around 200,000 people are diagnosed with the condition every year. The condition tends to be managed through medications or through various surgical interventions, depending on the cause of the heart failure. However, in severe cases, these interventions may not be effective and a heart transplant may be the only option. As the waiting list for donor organs continues to grow, the medical world has been desperate to find another option.

Artificial hearts, once nothing more than an idea in the realm of science fiction, are now an exciting reality. Ventricular assist devices supplement the function of failing hearts by replacing one aspect of the heart, whereas total artificial hearts are created to replace the heart entirely.

The company SynCardia has created the first commercially approved total artificial heart. This innovative device replaces the ventricles and 4 valves of the heart. It offers hope and an extended life expectancy to patients with end-stage heart failure. The longest a patient has lived with a SynCardia total artificial heart is 6 years and 9 months.

An intriguing current prototype for a soft artificial heart is being researched by ETH Zurich. It is formed from silicone and was created using 3D bioprinting, in an attempt to mimic the human heart as closely as possible in its form and functionality. However, this heart has a lifetime of only 3,000 pumps – the equivalent of 30-45 minutes.

Despite these incredibly impressive innovations, there is a clear problem; artificial hearts have been created as a bridge to a donor heart transplant, and the code has not yet been cracked on how to create a permanent artificial heart.

One of the greatest difficulties is creating a device that can meet the demands of the heart. Total artificial hearts must pump 8 litres per minute of blood with a blood pressure of 110mmHg, which requires an enormous amount of power. (More statistics on requirements in this article) Additionally, the procedure may lead to infection and there are other devastating side effects. A functioning heart is an essential part of life; the creation of a permanent artificial heart replacement would undoubtably change the lives of millions worldwide.

One of those lives could potentially be mine. Heart failure is a condition that has impacted my family and is something that I am at higher risk of. It is comforting to know that there are many interventions in place for the condition, should I be in the position of needing them. The fear of needing a heart transplant is one that I think about at times. I hope to make an impact in the research of artificial hearts in future. When taking the issues with durability, infection risk and economic barriers into consideration, it seems as though the creation of a permanent, accessible artificial heart replacement is an idea of the distant future. But I like to view things optimistically; technology is advancing extremely quickly – perhaps there will be a breakthrough sooner than it is believed.

It is no secret that the UK faces a serious organ shortage. Approximately 7,000 people are on a waiting list for an organ, and just last year, 430 people died never receiving one . Strategies have been implemented to help boost the number of donations, such as the switch to an opt out system in the UK. As well as advancements in humanizing animal organs for use, such as the decellularization and recellularization of pig organs with human pluripotent stem cells (see bellow). Or the genetic modification of a pig heart in order to remove its ‘pig markers’, so that after transplant the heart is hidden from our immune system (as seen in David Bennet’s case). Or just straight up growing human organs in chimeric pigs! Hopefully with these advancement, in the future, donations for organs transplant will become obsolete. However, donations to science will always be in demand.

After getting the opportunity to view prosthetic implants in situ, I genuinely felt indifferent. I thought it would be interesting experience but not something that would leave a lasting impression on me, boy was I wrong! After arriving at Southampton General and traversing its maze-like corridors, down into the depths of the hospital. My nose was hit with the overpowering chemical smell and shortly after, I was exposed to a preserved human corpse… A WHOLE (bar their missing lungs) HUMAN CORPSE! [Which I later found out are called cadavers.]

Next I was taken to see the prosthetics in situ and the room resemble something comparable to that of a serial killers basement! Human body parts, preserved and exposing their prosthetics, everywhere! Although being warned about what I would see, being their first hand was such a surreal experience, but very educational and insightful. I even got to touch the specimens first hand, truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Coming away from this event, gave me such an understanding for why donating your body to science is so important. Hospitals will often use the donated bodies to aid with teaching and preparing surgeons for what they might see in theatre. For example, when performing a hip replacement surgery, it is one thing to read about where the prosthetic should sit in the body from text books and videos but getting to see it in person is an invaluable learning experience. I don’t know about you, but I would want my surgeon to have seen where my prosthetic needed to go in situ before they actually went through with the operation! Additionally some donation will go onto to be used as surgical practice for training medical professionals. Or, your body could be used In research, to help aid the progress our knowledge of the human body.

However, are hospitals and medical schools the only places that requires human bodies? When you agree to donate your body to science, will your body definitely be used to aid in the teaching of generations of doctors to come, or could it end up in a barrel?! A notion I would’ve laughed at, until I stumbled across these macabre facilities known as body farms.

Body farms are forensic research facilities that aim to progress our knowledge and understanding about human decomposition. These facilities involve placing bodies in different situation and environments whilst monitoring how they decompose. Data gathered from body farms go onto aid police in determining what may have happened at crime scenes. The UK currently doesn’t have a body farm but there are talks about setting one up.

When it comes down to it, whether you wish to donate your body to science is your own personal choice and you can see mine bellow.

Stem cells have always been an intriguing topic to me, particularly their therapeutic potential. The idea of being able to use one undifferentiated cell to create whole new organs or body parts is fascinating. After our lecture on stem cells and their therapeutic use, I decided to research the different ways that stem cells are currently being used in medicine, and one case in particular stood out.

The Story

Lesley Calder was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 2019. Chemotherapy treatment was unsuccessful for her cancer, and she was left with the only option of a stem cell transplant. Lesley’s three siblings volunteered to be tested, with the slim chance of finding a sibling match (~25%). By some miracle, 2 siblings were full matches and 1 was a half match. Lesley’s sister Annie was chosen to be the donor, and amazingly, Lesley has since made a full recovery.

Using Stem Cells to Treat Cancer

A stem cell is defined as a cell that can self-renew indefinitely and has the capacity to differentiate into many cell types. Their normal function within the body is to replace old, damaged or defective cells to maintain normal tissue function.

Stem cell transplants are used to treat diseases where the bone marrow is damaged or defective, meaning that healthy blood cells can no longer be produced. This is the case in blood cancers (e.g. leukaemia and lymphoma), which primarily affect white blood cells. The loss of blood cells is further exacerbated by intensive cancer treatment (e.g. chemotherapy), which can also damage/destroy healthy cells. The transplantation of stem cells produces new blood cells, and helps to defend against the cancer.

Stem Cell vs. Bone Marrow Transplants

Before this research, I had only heard about bone marrow transplants, and didn’t know stem cell transplants existed, which made me wonder what the difference is. They are essentially the same thing, but differ in the locations where the cells are collected. A stem cell transplant involves collecting stem cells from the bloodstream, which is less invasive than a bone marrow transplant, which involves collecting a person’s bone marrow from within their bone (usually pelvic).

Information from Cancer Research UK says that stem cell transplants are the more common of the two, which I found surprising, considering I hadn’t heard of them. This is because stem cell transplants are: less invasive, easier to perform, have a higher yield of cells and have a quicker blood count recovery.

The Problem & Final Thoughts

Through this research, I have found that over 70% of patients who require a stem cell transplant will not find a compatible donor in their family. Additionally, only 3% of the UK population (and <6% of people in Northern Ireland) are registered to be stem cell donors, making the chances of finding a compatible match even lower. For the majority of patients, like Lesley, a stem cell transplant is their only chance at recovery, and their chances of success are slim.

Lesley’s story prompted her son Max to join the stem cell donor register in hopes of helping others like his mum, and he has already been called upon to donate. By sharing her story, I hope to inspire others to join the register as well, as I will definitely be doing. Anyone aged 17-55 and in good health can sign up here. For more information on stem cell transplants, visit NHS, Cancer Research UK or Leukaemia & Lymphoma Society.