Lynne Ostrow
There are many examples of how we alter nature in the field of health care. Perhaps, the examples that follow will help you in making your own decision about this question. In the field of reproductive medicine, the physiology of reproduction is altered to allow if, when and how pregnancy ensues. The birth control pill, for example, has changed the lives of women dramatically by allowing them reproductive control of their bodies. The pill blocks ovulation so that there is no egg to fertilize after sexual union. If the ovaries were not being altered from their normal monthly cycle of ovulation, a woman could and often would become pregnant at the time of the month she was ovulating if she was sexually active. A more dramatic example of altering nature is the production of babies by in vitro fertilization (IVF). Here, eggs are removed from the ovary of the women, fertilized with sperm in the laboratory and reinserted into the woman?s uterus once the egg/sperm cells have started to multiple. Large numbers of babies are born as a result of this reproductive ?technology? world wide, enabling couples who would have remained infertile at an earlier point in time, to become parents.
What about the person who develops Type 1 diabetes? Must they be doomed to death once their beta cells in the pancreas stop producing insulin? Well, we know that need not be the outcome since the discovery of exogenous insulin by Doctors Banting and Best in Canada in the 1920?s. Now, a person who manages their disease carefully with strict control of their blood sugar by giving themselves insulin injections or using an insulin pump can lead a most normal, healthy life. By altering the natural course of this disease by providing insulin from the ?outside?, when the body no longer produces this natural hormone, millions live long and productive lives.
A more common example that many may be able to relate to is how we can alter our immune system to not be irritated by the spring time pollens causing the symptoms of hay fever. By a series of allergy shots of weak doses of the offending irritants, the immune system can be tricked into not overreacting to pollens in the environment, thus, reducing our symptoms of reddened watery eyes, runny noses etc. A more dramatic example of altering the immune system is provided by powerful anti-rejection drugs that block the immune response in patients with transplanted organs. These drugs allow the new organ to be ?accepted? by the receiving body so that every-other day dialysis is no longer needed, as in the case of a kidney transplant.
Nursing is a profession that helps individuals, families and communities alter the state of their health for the better. A newly diagnosed diabetic, for example, needs much attention from a nurse in learning to manage this chronic disease effectively so that the person leads a normal life. If the teaching by nurses has been tailored effectively to each individual, he/she can take responsibility to manage the disease independently, only needing periodic oversight and re-evaluation by health care professionals.
Nurses also care for patients when they are acutely ill with a life threatening disease, undergoing surgery or the transitions in life, such as, childbirth and dying. The ability to assist a patient/parent/spouse learn how to manage a chronic disease and/or influence them to make healthy lifestyle choices is a particularly rewarding aspect of this professional work.
I think the reader can conclude that I do feel it is ?OK? to alter nature. Some of the most important advances in medicine are accomplished by altering nature enabling people to live long productive lives that would not have been possible without these ?alterations?. In fact, our continuing effort to discover the genetic causes of diseases such as cancer, diabetes and debilitating diseases such as Parkinsons are based on the premise that once the cause is determined, that alterations such as drugs or gene therapy may be developed to alter the course of the disease or to prevent it entirely. These are worthy goals that scientists and health care professionals work towards each day.
Lynne Ostrow Ed D, RN is an Associate Professor of Nursing at WVU School of Nursing and is the chair of the Dept. of Health Restoration. She has taught all level of students from undergraduate to doctoral students and is the author of several publications and book chapters on various topics in nursing.
