Modern science and medicine have brought many benefits to mankind. An ordinary man and woman can expect to live longer than was possible. In our country itself, life expectancy is more than sixty years, which is much higher than people in less developed areas.
According to the World Health Organization, smallpox does not exist. This contrasts sharply with the situation about forty years ago, when smallpox was the deadly killer of hundreds and thousands of people every year.
Other diseases, such as tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, leprosy, and other once-terrible diseases are now mostly treatable. Medical care improved by leaps and bounds. Many powerful new drugs have been developed to combat the many diseases that plague people. Even some types of cancer are now curable.
There are some diseases that are still very difficult to treat, but at least patients have more options. The heart and other organ transplants are common today. Thus, the chances of survival increased. With the exception of cases of AIDS, cancer and simple old age, men and women are much better than their ancestors in terms of medical treatment.
However, this is only one side of the story. When extending the lives of men and women, many unexpected problems arise.
With a decrease in overall mortality, the world's population will grow rapidly. This will create problems in providing adequate shelter and food for the rapidly aging population. Requirements for the Earth will increase many times. Our resources will be reduced, and it will be difficult for the future generation to cope with the people who gallop around the world.
People will live longer. They require the most. Can society cope? I'm not saying that we should just let the elderly and the sick die so that we have enough resources for healthy people. There are many moral and ethical considerations. Even now, anyone who even condones euthanasia or murder by mercy will probably find a horde of moralists breathing around his neck.
So it all comes down to this. Modern science and medicine allowed more men and women to live longer. This leads to an increase in the population of the world and, in particular, the number of unproductive older people from the human race. The obvious advantages that we have also lead to their undesirable problems. Modern science and medicine have brought great benefits to mankind. It has brought or does great harm. What is more good or bad? At the moment there is no clear answer. Perhaps this will show the future.
