[DEFEATED] Regulating Medical Genetic Modification

[Berenice Soviet]

OOC: Simply on the basis that messing with genetics is a direct violation of my beliefs, I will be voting against this. Is the possibility of removing certain predisposed ailments from my genes intriguing? Yes, I'd say most people would think it'd be great to. However, you have to look at the long term effects of this. If you remove the bad genes from all people (hypothetically), the population of the world will only continue to swell. Natural selection cannot take place if you remove the natural parts of it.

TLDR; fixing 'broken' genes is immoral, against

[New Bolva]

OOC: Simply on the basis that messing with genetics is a direct violation of my beliefs, I will be voting against this. Is the possibility of removing certain predisposed ailments from my genes intriguing? Yes, I'd say most people would think it'd be great to. However, you have to look at the long term effects of this. If you remove the bad genes from all people (hypothetically), the population of the world will only continue to swell. Natural selection cannot take place if you remove the natural parts of it.

TLDR; fixing 'broken' genes is immoral, against

OOC: Would you advocate that people with genetic ailments that cause cancer not be given chemotherapy or radiation? Should people with weak immune systems not be given antivirals?
I don't see how treating an ailment at the genetic source is fundamentally different than providing care to negate the effects of genetic disease.
And population growth is steadily declining despite advances in modern medicine eradicating or negating diseases, as population growth slows due to social factors with increasing levels societal development and modernization.

IC:
"Honored representatives of the World Assembly, The People's Republic of New Bolva strongly supports the proposed resolution. Advances in gene editing technology will allow for substantial advances in molecular medicine, raising the possibility of substantial improvements to the health and quality of life of all World Assembly member states. However, these technologies when used without due consideration of side effects or by improperly trained clinical providers could also lead to significant risks for individuals who undergo genetic therapies. The World Assembly must establish basic criteria for the safe use of gene editing and other genetic therapies before their widespread introduction, thus, I will be voting in favor of the resolution."
- Chairman Meow, General Secretary, People's Republic of New Bolva

[Paradiito]

The bill contains no provision for an international genetic treatment advisory and inspection body, that would require samples of the mutagens, retroviruses or crispr used in genetic engineering, to test for themselves.

[Imperial Cleves]

“On second thought, since I believe that God made our bodies under his image and wants us to respect our bodies, I will not support any form of genetic modification. I hereby vote against this proposal.”

Lady Charlotte Schafer, Minister of Clevesian WA Affairs

[Adastra]

This post is semi-canon to Adastran lore
A mysterious man in an astronaut suit babbles idly in an unused corner of the World Assembly conference room.
He wears a bulky, oversized T-shirt over his suit that says "Definitely Not A Time-Traveler"

2. [...] a. Are as specific for their intended purpose of treatment as possible given the treating nation's level of medical science,

"What if the intended purpose is to purge a demographic from a nation's gene pool? A demographic unjustly perceived as sick?"

2. [...] c. Cause as few genetic editing errors as possible

"Our 21st century—oops uh... present... understanding of the human genome makes the distinction between error and non-error unclear.
The editing of a genome, under certain perspectives, is the deliberate introduction of genetic errors in order to alter phenotypic—i.e. organism-level—traits.
What exactly is a genetic error? The genes that makes us stronger or weaker? The genes that causes us to have fairer or darker skin? What vision of the human genome is more correct?
The vagueness of this resolution's provisions (and its lack of any formation or revision of a regulatory board to provide oversight) makes it easy for the dangers of eugenics to come to fruition."

Worried that such relatively new technology might be adopted prematurely by medical professionals, for such reasons as greed or personal gain, or pressure on the scientific community by the uninformed authorities, which could lead to unwise or unsafe applications of genetic modification.

"While we... uh... I... applaud the desire for a minimum level of decency when tampering with something dangerous, we... shit... I share the opinions expressed by many others; seeing this resolution as reckless and a platform to justify future abuses."

The astronaut flees the chamber before security could arrive.

[La Chonita]

The delegation of the Confederacy of La Chonita hereby announce our opposition to this resolution. Though we believe in the science behind genetic modification for the purpose saving lives, we cannot accept any resolution that is anything short of monitoring its use for specifically that purpose.

[Embaixada de Cristo]

A delegação da Confederação da Embaixada de Cristo comunica nossa oposição a esta resolução. Embora acreditemos na ciência por trás da modificação genética com o propósito de salvar vidas, não podemos aceitar nenhuma resolução que seja nada menos que monitorar seu uso especificamente para esse propósito

[Militarized Administration Zone]

"This has pushed humanity too far!"

The representative only known as "Jewel" would start to flip through a folder of files...

"Over billions and billions of years humanity has reached its current state and has fully stop evolution and is now perfect. There are also many situations to consider if genetic modification happens, such as how will we predict the genetic modified 'humans' goals and objectives in their 'life'?"

- ████ "Jewel" █████, Head of research, mining and resource gathering.

TL;DR: Humanity is at its peak, after billions of years of evolution, and modifying it will cause problems.

[Nova Universo]

Kahina Azayi, Representative of the Free City of Nova Universo to the WA General Assembly: The Free City of Nova Universo,in behalf of the Union and its member states, votes FOR the proposition 'Regulating Medical Genetic Modification'. Despite its terse wording, vague provisions and resulting misapprehensions, this proposition can be a keystone for the development of genetic therapy. The rapidly-developing field of genetic therapy is in serious need of regulation, if only to define what it is and what it is not. I urge my fellow representatives to stop fearmongering and start reading proper references on the matter.

The Union is of the opinion that genetic treatment must be monitored. Conventional, alternative and other forms of medical treatment are already monitored by the World Assembly. We therefore ask why gene-based therapies should be not be monitored nor regulated. Remember that medical regulation and its resulting standards of care brings better health outcomes to populations and the individuals thereof. If it were not for the adoption of cleanliness in medical facilities nor testing for safety of therapies, I can assure you that most of us would not be alive.

The Union also acknowledges the qualms of this chamber's sceptical representatives. As treatments are, genetic therapy at present is experimental and risky; its results are also unpredictable and hazardous. However, this can be said of other treatments which some our member nations support, such as bloodletting, naturopathy or conversion therapy. If even these procedures which bring indescribable sufferings to its patients are monitored by the World Assembly, we do not see a reason why relatively well-researched and harmless gene therapy should not be.

The Union also acknowledges that gene therapy can give rise to the X-Men, the "Master Race", slugs that are made of banana or whatever else you may think of. However, we must note that this proposition restricts us to doing genetic modification for treatment of genetic diseases such as haemophilia, fatal familial insomnia or NekoCats syndrome. It does not support genetic scientists transubstantiating organisms into sentient plasma, attaching an extra eye to someone with a functioning set of these, nor making stomachs with the power of speech.

I could go on talking about each and every point which the other representatives raised, but we simply do not have the time, space, energy nor resources to do such. Also, we are not dignifying some nations' musings which border on the metaphysical and absurd, as we are dealing with reality here. In summation, despite the evident deficiencies of the proposition on the table, the Union believes that this must be APPROVED, as its benefits outweigh its burdens, and that its associated and resulting problems can be solved by extant legislation.

[Mayland]

For someone who was never meant for this world, I must confess I'm suddenly having a hard time leaving it. Of course, they say every atom in our bodies was once part of a star. Maybe I'm not leaving... maybe I'm going home.

The WA Delegation from Mayland is AGAINST this proposal, We believe everyone is valuable, and We hold diversity as one of our core values.
We believe the passing of this proposal will generate an elitist society where those less fortunate, poor and different will suffer. We don't want that. Ours is a free country where everyone is welcomed and accepted as they are.

[Walfo]

As the odds are slim, but the idea is sound, this proposal has been moved to another forum for redrafting. If anyone had feedback, let's work to make sure it's addressed. I have already addressed some concerns.
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=531145&p=40373449#p40373449

[Walfo]

Please continue the conversation so that this can be passed one way or another, after some edits. The idea is solid, but the wording it seems was not that good. Let's work on that:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=531145&p=40373449#p40373449

[Tinhampton]

"Regulating Medical Genetic Modification" was defeated 10,171 votes to 4,733. (31.76% support)