A cure for pain

Salu · 15-12-2006, 11:08

http://212.58.226.30/1/hi/health/6172853.stm

This looks very exciting research. Quite a breakthrough I think...

However there's also a flip-side; morally should we ever cease pain? Perhaps any potential drugs may go towards easing rather than removing pain but as the article above mentions, the individuals concerned have become street performers mutilating themselves, because they can....
I know we could extol the benefits of increased pain relief for all those many patients out there that could benefit from it but Iâ€™m more interested in your views on the medical ethics behind total pain removal....

**David F** · 15-12-2006, 11:09

pain is a warning is it not if you dont feel you will not know anything is wrong surely?
Ethically once a problem is diagnosed pain could be removed but then what about later warning? I think its dangerous

danielf · 15-12-2006, 11:12

It depends. I agree that pain is a warning signal which should not be ignored/removed. On the other had, it would be great if it were possible to remove pain in terminally ill people.

**Graham M** · 15-12-2006, 11:26

I think I have this right, some people with Leprocy get numbed sensations or can't feel pain at all and can badly burn themselves so surely it's a bad thing in some ways but then again if you've got someone on their last legs who was in immense pain, it could conversely be a good thing.

**David F** · 15-12-2006, 11:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

It depends. I agree that pain is a warning signal which should not be ignored/removed. On the other had, it would be great if it were possible to remove pain in terminally ill people.

I would agree that that would be the only occassion as a terminally ill patient isnt going to recover anyway

bopdude · 15-12-2006, 11:31

Mmmm, from a medical POV it's interesting, yes I think it could and maybe should be given to those in pain if they needed it, but how long before the warmongers get a hold of it and create an army of non pain feeling drones, just imagine an army that didn't feel pain, they would just keep coming untill the body 'gave up' Scary

Damien · 15-12-2006, 11:34

Terminally Ill people yes.

Otherwise its not about morality, its about common sense. Pain is a symptom. We cant remove it, otherwise more will die.

Jules · 15-12-2006, 12:07

I agree with what has been said, nature gives us pain because something is wrong.

Ramrod · 15-12-2006, 13:02

Yep, pain is there for a reason.....usually to stop us hurting ourselves any more.
Of course this sort of research may be hugely useful in treating severe intractable pain

**Russ B** · 15-12-2006, 13:08

Isn't pain your body's warning system?

danielf · 15-12-2006, 13:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ B

Isn't pain your body's warning system?

Isn't that what everybody's been saying in this thread?

**Russ B** · 15-12-2006, 13:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Isn't that what everybody's been saying in this thread?

Didn't you know it's rude to answer a question with a question?

danielf · 15-12-2006, 13:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ B

Didn't you know it's rude to answer a question with a question?

I presume that's a rhetorical question?

Ramrod · 15-12-2006, 13:24

Sometimes the bodies pain generation mechanisms can malfunction and then the pain you feel serves no useful purpose.........

**David F** · 15-12-2006, 13:41

sometimes is the word there most times there is a reason ........

if you mask it for the sometimes your not ment to feel pain what happens when you tread on a nail or break your leg? and how am I to know if a cpu is overheating if I cant use the OYB test anymore?