"To discover to the world something which deeply concerns it, and of which it was previously ignorant; to prove to it that it had been mistaken on some vital point of temporal or spiritual interest, is as important a service as a human being can render to his fellow creatures..."
John Stuart Mill, "On Liberty"
It was probably best that the still ongoing debate about healthcare not focus on the great advances in science and genetics that really are at the cutting edge of medicine. If we really look for where the future of medicine is, it's in understanding the way in which genes will be manipulated and even created in order to create life saving cures. Even today, the promise of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and in vitro fertilization are being used to created perfect genetic matches, so called "savior siblings." Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Beth Whitehouse in her new book The Match: "Savior Siblings" and One Family's Battle to Heal their Daughter, tells the story of one Long Island couple thrust into this uncharted biomedical territory. It's a riveting story, with a happy, but cautionary ending.
