Principles and Practices

Life Extension

Life extension technologies represent a monumental future step forward for humanity. They have the potential to treat many different health conditions at once, improving both lifespan and health-span of an individual. Currently, the main approach in synthetic biology is through epigenetics, by genetically reprogramming cells back to a healthy state.

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Motivation:

I place great moral and philosophical value on individuality and personal empowerment, and the development of life extension technologies provides a vital avenue to positively impact both. However, as with all important medical advancements seeking to better the human condition, fundamental ethical considerations arise, and governance of the technology must likewise be considered.

Ethics Goals:

1. Equitable Access

a. Fiscal Equity: Providing access to individuals of varied financial backgrounds.

b. Provincial Equity: Providing access to individuals of varied areas of governance.

2. Economic Adaptation

a. Retirement: When is someone no longer expected to work?

3. Resource Management

a. Population Impact: Potential population boom resulting in various concerns.

4. Response to Special Interests

a. Healthcare: Demand/needs change, market shifts.

b. Beautification: Demand/needs change, market shifts.

c. Ideological: How are all ideological concerns addressed?

Governance Actions:

  1. a.

Rank 1, Priority 1:

Determine the healthcare status of new life extension procedures.

Actors: Media, government, healthcare providers, insurance companies, citizens

Implementation: corporate/governmental expenditures, lobbyists, citizens (supply/demand)

Consequences: development of technology outpaces legislation

Rank 2, Priority 1:

Provide media attention and awareness campaigns.

Actors: Media, government, healthcare providers, insurance companies

Implementation: corporate/governmental expenditures, lobbyists, citizens (supply/demand)

Consequences: potential bias/misinformation, intensifying conflict over portrayal


1.b.

Rank 2, Priority 1:

Determine national and international status of developing treatments.

Actors: Government (local, national), United Nations, advising boards.

Implementation: Navigation of complex government funding procedures, geopolitics

Consequences: Dependent on efficacy/development speed of technology, wide-ranging


2.a.

Rank 2, Priority 2:

Provide for informed legislative determination (e.g. based on procedure/health status/occupation/incentives/etc.) of labor laws.

Actors: National/local governments, citizens, lobbyists

Implementation: Government, lobbyists

Consequences: Introduces inequity (e.g. in occupation, health status), corruption


3.a.

Rank 2, Priority 1:

Develop a comprehensive plan for potential rapid population growth.

Actors: Government (local, national), United Nations, advising boards

Implementation: Navigation of complex funding procedures

Consequences: Depend on efficacy of technology and speed of development, include political standoff and delay

Rank 2, Priority 1:

Provide media attention and awareness campaigns surrounding potential rapid population growth.

Actors: Media, government, lobbyists (ideological/environmental/economic/etc.).

Implementation: corporate/governmental expenditures, lobbyists, activists

Consequences: potential bias/misinformation, intensifying conflict over portrayal


4.a. , b.

Rank 1, Priority 3:

Recognize and brace for market changes in healthcare and conventional “anti-aging.”

Actors: Government (local, national), healthcare/beautification companies, media, citizens

Implementation: Business model restructuring, awareness campaigns (e.g. training models)

Consequences: Jobs lost/jobs created. Potential for market uncertainty.


4.c.

Rank 2, Priority 2:

Make sure there is an avenue for policy-makers to hear arguments from all interested parties.

Actors: Government (local, national), citizens, religious/ideological institutions

Implementation: Grassroots funding, government, lobbyists

Consequences: Delayed action (decisions may not keep pace with tech development)



In general, governance depends on several key factors, including: