Shamima Lasker

Surrogacy is an encouraging management for many childless couples and can hypothetically resolve many unbearable pain that they are confronted. Initially surrogacy treatment was frowned upon, however, surrogacy is more popularly accepted now a day. Though, surrogacy has not yet recognized by 199 country in the globe. Different country has different regulations on surrogacy. However, “there are some indication of the degree of divergence between official discourse and actual practice of surrogacy throughout world”. There are positive changes in attitude toward surrogacy has been seen in some countries. This special issue of Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics has been organized on surrogacy to see the current thinking of surrogacy around the world and how people come out from the social, religious and political framework.

Cloning research has been said to be one of the world’s ten great technologies achieved in 2000. A number of Asian countries are pioneers in human cloning research. The source of the material for cloning research has raised ethical questions. Although most of the counties in Asia and the Pacific have passed laws prohibiting the implantation of cloned human embryos for reproductive purposes, embryonic stem cell research has drawn special attention for undertaking revolutionary treatment of disease, in China, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. Regulations concerning stem cell research differ from nation to nation in Asia-Pacific region. Guidelines regarding the reproductive and therapeutic cloning are discussed. Freedom of research and discovery for the benefit of humankind must be respected but unethical scientific adventurism also needs to be checked. Biotechnological advancement in 21st century in this line may challenge us to rethink and redraw the moral boundaries of the United Nations Declaration on Human Cloning

In Bangladesh due to improved quality of life the number of people over 60 years is increasing rapidly. This should be seen as an emerging challenge as the elderly will have special needs and require different care-giving services. Since Bangladesh does not have a social welfare system there will be competition for inadequate resources specially health and medical services. It is envisaged that due to more elderly population the demographic structure will undergo a slow change from the present pyramid structure. The growing trend towards nuclear family or where children live abroad will put the elderly parents in a dilemma-the financial and social support that is essential for them has not yet emerged. The nutrition and health status of elderly people depend on adequate food safe water, proper sanitation facilities and maintaining hygienic standards. To provide special medical care for the elderly there is a need to establish WHO recommended Age-Friendly Primary Health Care centers and separate wards /units are to be set up in the hospitals. To reduce vulnerability of older women there is a need to distribute assets and properties according to the law.. Our new generations have to be responsive, informed and attentive about their duties and responsibilities towards the elderly people. Taking proper care of the elderly is our ethical duty and responsibility.