Module 2 Lesson 3 - 3 (Lab)
Lesson 3 — Human Growth Hormone
Thought Lab
Evaluating Potential Uses for Human Growth Hormone
Parents want their children to be successful. Recent studies have linked job success with being tall. In China, certain heights have been used as a prerequisite for jobs. Since 1985, genetic engineering technology has been used to produce human growth hormone, referred to as synthetic human growth hormone. Parents have pestered doctors to prescribe it for the purpose of increasing the stature of their children. In addition, the discovery was made that human growth hormone may have some anti-aging properties.
Since the approval of the restricted use of synthetic hGH, concerns have arisen about its use and potential abuse. Health Canada has approved extremely limited use of the hormone, which is very expensive and may be associated with several negative health effects. (Injections cost in excess of $25,000 per year.)
Problem
Should Health Canada approve the widespread use of synthetic hGH for Canadians?
Issue 1
Until recently, the use of synthetic hGH was approved only for those children who had malfunctioning pituitary glands and could not produce adequate amounts of the necessary hormone themselves. Recently, the use of synthetic hGH has been approved for
children who are genetically of short stature. Should people have the option to take synthetic hGH just to increase their genetically predetermined height?
Issue 2
In adults, the production of natural hGH declines with age. This makes it increasingly difficult to reduce one's body fat as one ages. Given that obesity has reached epidemic levels in the North American population and one of the functions of hGH in the body is to reduce cellular fat, should synthetic hGH be approved as a diet treatment for obesity?
Issue 3
Because one of the functions of hGH in the body is to build lean muscle mass, its use has become widespread among various athletes. In fact, many athletes at the 1996 summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, referred to the event as the "hGH Games". Despite its expense, many athletes, from baseball players to weightlifters, are acquiring synthetic hGH because detection by drug testers is difficult. Should competitive athletes be allowed legal access to synthetic hGH?
Assignment questions and Alberta Diploma Exam questions often are based on issues such as this. Controversial issues have some people for and some against them. Can you support your point of view?
For instance, if you were asked, “Should health insurance cover the use of synthetic hGH, and if so, in which circumstances?”, could you explain the major societal risks and benefits of approving the use of synthetic hGH in the three situations mentioned above?
