As my father prepares for his upcoming hip replacement surgery, I find myself reflecting on his fortunate access to private healthcare. The journey leading up to this decision has been far from straightforward. He has undergone numerous doctor’s appointments, consultations, treatments, and procedures, all aimed at providing relief from his debilitating condition. After exploring all other options, he has ultimately chosen to undergo the hip replacement surgery.

A hip replacement is a surgical procedure where a damaged or diseased hip joint is replaced with an artificial joint made of metal, ceramic, or plastic. By replacing the damaged joint with a prosthetic one, it not only relieves discomfort but also improves overall function, allowing patients to get back to their normal life, something that I am very excited for my dad to get back.

Thankfully, advancements in hip replacement technology have made way for significant improvements in recent years. Enhanced prosthetic materials, including durable ceramics and metals, now closely mimic the natural movement of the hip joint. New surgical techniques and tools such as robotics have all further contributed to these improvements. These innovations have revolutionised patient outcomes, offering swifter rehabilitation and improved quality of life.

Fortunately, my dad has access to private healthcare through his work and has therefore decided to proceed with the hip replacement privately. Although I am over the moon that my dad can get the care he needs quickly, it has got me thinking about the healthcare accessibility and disparities that exist within our healthcare system.

Not everyone has the luxury of access to private medical insurance. Patients undergoing NHS treatment for their hip replacement may endure lengthy waiting times for surgery. On the NHS website it states that the longest waiting time for a surgery should be around 18 weeks, but this is from the point of referral for the operation, and does not consider the time spent waiting to get the referral, which can be months! This can make the situation worse, diminish quality of life, and impose significant emotional and physical stress on patients and their families.

My dad’s hip replacement surgery is scheduled for next month. Reflecting on healthcare disparities leads me to question whether my dad would have been offered the option for such prompt surgery under different circumstances. I highly doubt it.

I decided to interview my dad to gather insight into his thoughts on his upcoming surgery and to understand the extent to which his hip affects his daily life. Additionally, I spoke with his colleague, Aubery Smith, who underwent a hip replacement surgery through the NHS to gain further perspective (transcript below).

While my father and Aubery Smith both have/ will have their procedures done at the same place, Aubery had to wait “approximately a year” to undergo his hip replacement surgery through the NHS. I cannot imagine enduring the pain he and my father described for such an extended period, and I strongly feel that changes should be made to address this disparity.

Overall, hip replacement surgeries have significantly advanced, offering individuals the opportunity to regain their daily lives pain-free, which is invaluable. However, I believe the healthcare system needs to implement additional measures, such as a reimbursement scheme. This would ensure that individuals in dire need of hip replacement surgery, whose quality of life is diminishing but lack access to private healthcare, can promptly receive the treatment they desperately need. Put yourself in their shoes; wouldn’t you look for timely treatment if faced with a similar situation?

What would you do if you were offered the chance to enhance your future child’s intellect and athletic abilities before they were even born?

Would you do it?

With the rapid advancements in genetic engineering, this question may demand an answer sooner than we first thought!

What is Genetic Engineering?

Genetic engineering is the process of deliberately manipulating and modifying the genetic makeup of an organism (the genetic makeup being the stuff that makes us… well… us). At the forefront of this endeavour is CRISPR-Cas, a ground-breaking technology developed in 2012. CRISPR-Cas allows scientists to target specific DNA sequences with remarkable precision and altering their function.

The potential of genetic engineering is immense, extending far beyond what you might imagine. It has been pivotal in treating human diseases such as diabetes, sickle cell disease and haemophilia.

This all sounds great, doesn’t it? Individuals grappling with diseases may not have to struggle anymore!

However, while the prospects of genetic engineering may seem promising, there looms a shadow of ethical uncertainty. The fact we can modify human cells to change their function means we can also target and modify human embryo cells.

We can basically design a human.

You may think this idea is far-fetched, and I wouldn’t blame you! The concept of designing human traits to align with our preferences may sound like the plot of a science fiction film, but it’s a reality within reach. This power to tailor human traits come with ethical risks and concerns that cannot be ignored.

Societal Implications

The societal implications of genetic engineering are vast and complex. The ability to shape human traits could worsen existing social inequalities as access to genetic enhancements may only be available to the wealthy. Additionally, there are significant concerns about eugenics, which involves altering genes to improve human traits. These actions could potentially redefine the very essence of humanity. It begs the question: Is it ethically okay to attempt to ‘play god’?

“The cloning of humans is on most of the lists of things to worry about from Science, along with behaviour control, genetic engineering, transplanted heads, computer poetry and the unrestrained growth of plastic flowers.”

– Lewis Thomas

Conclusion

Given the exciting potential of genetic engineering, we need to be careful. While it could help reduce human suffering and improve medicine, it also brings up ethical questions and societal issues that we need to think about. As the possibilities of genetic engineering are being explored, we have to make sure we’re guided by ethics and a concern for everyone’s well-being. We can use genetic engineering to make life better for everyone, not change what life is like completely.

Today I came across the concept of Neuralink. You may wonder what it is, just as I did. Neuralink is an implant designed by Elon Musk to be inserted into the brain of patients with quadriplegia. His aim is for people with quadriplegia to be able to control their phones by using their brain with no movement required! I think that sounds amazing! But is it too good to be true?

After conducting my own research through literature, I found that there has been many controversies associated with this venture. There have been rumours that the testing has resulted in animals/ monkeys have been left with debilitating after effects. Elon did combat this by stating that no animal has been harmed in the process of testing the product – all of which is still being investigated.