Would you take an immortality serum made from victims?

Discuss the February 2017 Book of the Month, The Diary of an Immortal by David J Castello.
User avatar
David Nash
Posts: 84
Joined: 05 Dec 2016, 07:27
Currently Reading: Slay the Dragon
Bookshelf Size: 24
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-david-nash.html
Latest Review: The Engine Woman's Light by Laurel Anne Hill
Reading Device: B009XE0K7W

Would you take an immortality serum made from victims?

Post by David Nash »

There was a great deal of "medical research" performed by the doctors in Buchenwald and Dachau during WWII. When confronted with the results, many doctors refused to even review the findings because they felt it violated their Hippocratic oath.

They argued that by even looking at the research data they would be giving validity to the techniques used to obtain the research. Others felt that they were salvaging some good from the horror of the occupation camps.

In any event, much of the research into cancer treatments and cancer drugs actually dates to early Nazi experiments on prisoners.

So, if you were offered a drug that conferred immortality, but you knew it was based on research that involved torturing, killing, and maiming thousands - would you take it?
Sarah_Khan
Posts: 869
Joined: 27 Jan 2016, 11:56
Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... 3700">Gone With the Wind</a>
Currently Reading: Circe
Bookshelf Size: 336
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-sarah-khan.html
Latest Review: The Formidable King by Alyssa J. Montgomery

Post by Sarah_Khan »

That is a very interesting question, personally I would never want to be immortal so I would never take it regardless of how it was made. But your question makes me think about if a loved one of mine was suffering from a life-threatening disease and I had to make the choice of whether to save them by giving them a cure that was made by testing on prisoners.
I would like to say I would not use something that was made by killing thousands but I am not quite sure I would actually make that choice if I was in that situation.
It is certainly a lot to think about.
User avatar
Wasif Ahmed
Posts: 662
Joined: 19 Sep 2016, 22:00
Favorite Author: J.K. Rowling
Currently Reading: The Face of Fear
Bookshelf Size: 110
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-wasif-ahmed.html
Latest Review: Sigfried’s Smelly Socks! by Len Foley
Reading Device: B00THRCA6E
fav_author_id: 1778

Post by Wasif Ahmed »

I don't agree with @Sarah_Khan here. Personally, I don't want to become immortal so taking the serum is out of the question. However, if one of my loved ones was dying because of a life threatening disease I would give them something to cure them regardless of what it was made of. ?
When people say you've changed, it just means that you have stopped living your life, their way.
User avatar
kandscreeley
Special Discussion Leader
Posts: 11683
Joined: 31 Dec 2016, 20:31
Currently Reading: Believarexic
Bookshelf Size: 486
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kandscreeley.html
Latest Review: The Elf Revelation by Jordan David

Post by kandscreeley »

That's definitely a tough one. I guess if I had absolutely nothing to do with the research details then I probably would take it if I really wanted it.
A book is a dream you hold in your hands.
—Neil Gaiman
srm628
Posts: 97
Joined: 29 May 2016, 22:17
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 38
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-srm628.html
Latest Review: The Ultimate Guide For The Avid Indoorsman by John Driver

Post by srm628 »

I wouldn't, based only on the fact I don't want immortality. If I wanted immortality, I would take it. They died anyway, someone is going to use it. It doesn't help them for you to be on too high of a horse to take it. They would have suffered regardless of who took it.
User avatar
Jennifer Allsbrook
Posts: 921
Joined: 23 Jul 2016, 20:35
Favorite Book: Nightlord: Sunset
Currently Reading: An American Hedge Fund
Bookshelf Size: 133
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-jennifer-allsbrook.html
Latest Review: Audible Book of your Choice by Amazon

Post by Jennifer Allsbrook »

I would not take the drug for a variety of reasons. First, I believe that scientists and scientific research must occur within the constraints of ethics. It is wrong to conduct experiments on humans. Medical trials do use humans, however, the medicines that are being put through clinical trials have undergone animal studies and rigorous examination and quality controls. Also, individuals involved in these trials have given informed consent. Experimenting on a person without their consent and without considering the ramifications is unacceptable. Secondly, I see no value to immortality. Let me live my life to its fullest and contribute as much as possible in the one natural life that I have been given.
User avatar
gali
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 53652
Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:12
Favorite Author: Agatha Christie
Currently Reading: The Suite Life
Bookshelf Size: 2287
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-gali.html
Reading Device: B00I15SB16
Publishing Contest Votes: 0
fav_author_id: 2484

Post by gali »

Jennifer Allsbrook wrote:I would not take the drug for a variety of reasons. First, I believe that scientists and scientific research must occur within the constraints of ethics. It is wrong to conduct experiments on humans. Medical trials do use humans, however, the medicines that are being put through clinical trials have undergone animal studies and rigorous examination and quality controls. Also, individuals involved in these trials have given informed consent. Experimenting on a person without their consent and without considering the ramifications is unacceptable.
Ditto!

I also won't take it, as I don't feel it is right to benefit from the suffering of others.
A retired Admin/Mod

Pronouns: She/Her

"In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you." (Mortimer J. Adler)
User avatar
dhwanis
Posts: 242
Joined: 08 Jul 2014, 23:53
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 48
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-dhwanis.html
Latest Review: Of Zots and Xoodles by Zarqnon the Embarrassed
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU

Post by dhwanis »

No. Even if it were something that I would have wanted...the way in which it was made would have made it not ok for me to be near. As it is what is the point of long life, if the price was the suffering of others?
MarisaRose
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 1444
Joined: 03 Sep 2016, 15:34
Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... 665">Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban</a>
Currently Reading: The Family Upstairs
Bookshelf Size: 435
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-marisarose.html
Latest Review: The Magic Shard by eelonqa K harris
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU

Post by MarisaRose »

I really like this topic!! I'd have to say no, I think I would be plagued by guilt and for that reason, it would be incredibly difficult to enjoy the immortal life. Even now, it is hard to think that any good could have come from such horrendous experiments.
User avatar
greenstripedgiraffe
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 836
Joined: 22 Oct 2015, 10:47
Currently Reading: The New Strong-Willed Child
Bookshelf Size: 274
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-greenstripedgiraffe.html
Latest Review: Swarm by Guy Morris

Post by greenstripedgiraffe »

It is hard to know what I would be tempted to do, if I were really in that position! However, I have zero desire to have immortality on earth - yikes! So, no serum for me. It is enough to believe in an afterlife, no need to worry about living forever here on this earth with a bunch of wicked people, not to mention watching everyone I know and love die =D
"no one down here" --- Up the Down Staircase
Latest Review: Swarm by Guy Morris
User avatar
Jasmine M Wardiya
Posts: 66
Joined: 25 Oct 2016, 04:23
Currently Reading: Darkglass Mountain #2 - The Twisted Citadel
Bookshelf Size: 238
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-jasmine-m-wardiya.html
Latest Review: "A Kingdom Forgotten" by Charles W. McDonald Jr.

Post by Jasmine M Wardiya »

I think it's fine to say studies should be done within the constraints of ethics and that's definitely something that should be done going forward, but saying that after the fact isn't going to save the victims of the time. Should we disregard research because it wasn't done ethically? Yes, it's a moral outcry but throwing away anything that was discovered by that feels like wasting what they lost. I wouldn't like it, certainly, but if it could potentially help the people of today I'd probably still consider it.

In regards to immortality, I'd like to say no, but who knows how I'd feel having it physically in front of my face. But don't want immortality with a clear, rational mind, at least. Then again, I've read books where they don't until they're dying - and then immortality dances in front of their face. A very different situation then.
Latest Review: "A Kingdom Forgotten" by Charles W. McDonald Jr.
papaya12
Posts: 124
Joined: 19 Jan 2017, 11:49
Currently Reading: Insurgent
Bookshelf Size: 72
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-papaya12.html
Latest Review: Protostar by Braxton A. Cosby
Reading Device: B00IKPYKWG

Post by papaya12 »

Firstly I do not want to be immortal. But, for the sake of discussion I will pretend that I do. At first I think I would be revolted by it and not want anything to do with it. Then I will think of all of the people who were tortured and, assuming that immortality will help in some way, I will not want them to have been tortured in vain. So in the end, I would probably take the drug if my doing so would benefit mankind somehow.
User avatar
Julie Ditton
Posts: 160
Joined: 21 Dec 2016, 14:02
Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... 031">Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 & 2</a>
Currently Reading: The Bone Collection
Bookshelf Size: 790
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-julie-ditton.html
Latest Review: "Nightlord: Sunset" by Garon Whited
Reading Device: B00HCNHDN0

Post by Julie Ditton »

The author dances around this issue. Early on we learn that the Dr who developed the drug did not do "human research". But I answer your question, I would not be able to avail myself of anything developed in the midst of the war camps.
"Oh honestly, don't you two read?"

-Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer 's Stone
by J.K. Rowling
Latest Review: "Nightlord: Sunset" by Garon Whited
User avatar
Gravy
Gravymaster of Bookshelves
Posts: 39044
Joined: 27 Aug 2014, 02:02
Favorite Author: Seanan McGuire
Favorite Book: As many as there are stars in the sky
Currently Reading: The Ghost Tree
Bookshelf Size: 1027
fav_author_id: 3249

Post by Gravy »

This is a brilliant (and difficult) question!

I would be disturbed, especially at first, but I think I would have to take it.
To explain my reasoning I'll pretend that, instead of immortality, it was a drug or treatment that would save my life, say from cancer, or something of the sort. If I were to refuse it, I feel that I would not be respecting their lives, and their suffering.

I don't see much of a difference (not including the circumstances of death) between this and organ donation, except the dead individuals permission.
Pronouns: She/Her

What is grief, if not love persevering?

Grief is just love with no place to go.
User avatar
gali
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 53652
Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:12
Favorite Author: Agatha Christie
Currently Reading: The Suite Life
Bookshelf Size: 2287
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-gali.html
Reading Device: B00I15SB16
Publishing Contest Votes: 0
fav_author_id: 2484

Post by gali »

Gravy wrote:
I don't see much of a difference (not including the circumstances of death) between this and organ donation, except the dead individuals permission.

There is a big difference as not only they had no say in the matter, they were tortured and maimed while alive.
A retired Admin/Mod

Pronouns: She/Her

"In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you." (Mortimer J. Adler)
Post Reply

Return to “Discuss "The Diary of an Immortal (1945-1959)" by David J Castello”