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The Media: An Introduction (third edition)

New book chapter published here on 'The Body, Health and Illness' with Emma Rich. Edited by Daniele Albertazzi and Paul Cobley [kml_flashembed publishmethod="static" fversion="8.0.0" movie="http://www.andymiah.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/MiahRich2009Media.swf" width="600" height="860" targetclass="flashmovie"]

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Abstract:

This chapter discusses media representations of health and illness and offers a description of the ways in which media habitually represent the body. Issues such as disability, eating disorders, body image, genetic engineering, sexually transmitted diseases, mental disorder, cosmetic surgery, drug cultures, abortion, fertility treatment, euthanasia, gerontology, and so forth, are within the general remit of this chapter. However, it focuses on three main issues as exemplary: ‘beginning of life’, eating disorder, disability and ‘end of life’ issues. These examples, it will be shown, urge  consideration of the kind of ethical principles which might inform media representations.

http://www.pearson.ch/HigherEducation/Longman/1471/9781405840361/The-Media-An-Introduction.aspx

Genetically Modified Athletes: The Book by Professor Andy Miah

Geneticaly Modified Athletes was published in 2004 by Routledge and was translated by the Brazilian publisher Phorta in 2008.

This website provides comprehensive information about the book and the subject of gene doping in sport. To navigate, select 'Genetically Modified Athletes' from the categories in the right hand side of the page.

Reviews

“GMA provides a comprehensive analysis of how genetic technology will be used to enhance sports performance, and how our existing framework for dealing with the problem of sports doping is inadequate on both practical and ethical grounds.” Prof. Francis Fukuyama, PhD, Johns Hopkins University

“Andy Miah provides an incisive analysis of some of the most difficult issues facing anti-doping authorities. The research is thorough, the argument is perceptive and the conclusions are challenging. Compulsory reading for anyone interested in the future of anti-doping policy." Prof. Barrie Houlihan, PhD, Loughborough University

[GMA] is a must-read for anyone who considers seriously the future of sports performance, and the position of gene science in establishing an exciting yet level terrain for athletes. It at once calls our attention to social constructionist understandings of the body as a mediator of cultural values, and at the same time, highlights a series of sobering thoughts (at least for social scientists) about sports bodies as genetically determined. Ultimately, the text is invaluable for researchers seeking an advanced institutional analysis of how sports policies regarding the body are developed, promulgated and resisted within sporting institutions, and informed by social processes (that is, the techno-medical development of human bodies) emanating far away from sports fields. Dr Michael Atkinson, Sport in Society

It will play a vital role in future debates regarding both the ethics of genetic manipulation and, more generally, of doping and performance enhancement. The book should be read and considered carefully by scholars in sports studies, bioethicists, sport-policy makers, coaches, administrators, journalists, and, perhaps most importantly, athletes. Dr Ian Ritchie, Sociology of Sport Journal.

Miah understands better than the majority of us how tomorrow’s world may look. A glimpse into tomorrow’s world, where the convergence of nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology and cognitive science-NBIC are becoming daily realities, might make us think that Miah’s opinion is plausible. Dorin Festeu, European Sports Management Quarterly

Miah's book is a thought-provoking read that raises important questions about sport and society. It is a truly boundary-crossing piece of work, one within which students and scholars in a number of disciplines, from sociology and law to sports studies, will find much material to mine. Guy Osborn,  Times Higher Education Supplement

Whether the notion of genetically modified athletes (or genetically modified humans in general) fills the reader with utopian joy or dystopian dread the book is of interest to a range of disciplines, uniting sports studies with interdisciplinary bioethics and policy discussions.blurred" Mark Anthony Cutter, Genomics, Society and Policy

"Genetically Modified Athletes can be highly recommended to readers interested in doping, anti-doping policies and sport, but first and foremost bioethics Dr Inge Kryger Pedersen, Scandinavian J of Medicine and Science in Sports

Genetically Modified Athletes is a book of great importance to both athletics and the greater society. In not taking a firm moral or political position, Miah forces the reader to come to grips with a rapidly changing world in which the line between science and science fiction is blurred" Melissa Donais, Yale Journal of Public Health

"This extremely interesting book is a must for everyone who takes the ethics in sports seriously....it is compulsory reading for anyone interested in the future of the athletes and the sports in the forthcoming 'era' of genetically engineered sports person." Fadil Ozyener, MD, PhD, University Medical School, Turkey for Journal of Sports Science and Medicine

"I believe that Miah's book should be compulsory reading on all Sports Medicine courses because it will promote debate, challenge consensus and make people think.' Prof. Dr. Andy Smith, FBASES, York and St John College for British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine Today

Select list of Academic Citations/Reviews

  1. Mazanov, J. (2009). "Without bounds: A cosmopolitan research agenda for drugs in sport." Sport in Society 12(3): 411 - 422.
  2. Mazanov, J. (2009). "Debating the role of drugs in sport: a reader." Sport in Society 12(3): 296 - 312.
  3. Mazanov, J. and V. McDermott (2009). "The case for a social science of drugs in sport." Sport in Society 12(3): 276 - 295.
  4. McNamee, M.J. (2008) Sports, Virtues and Vices. Oxon and New York, Routledge.
  5. Kious, B. M. (2008). "Philosophy on Steroids: why the anti-doping position could use a little enhancement." Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics 29: 213-234.
  6. Stein, D.J. (2008) Philosophy of Psychopharmacology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p.118.
  7. More, Pete. (2008) Enhancing Me: The Hope and the Hype of Human Enhancement (Science Museum TechKnow Series), John Wiley & Sons, p.249.
  8. Christian Lenk, Nils Hoppe & Roberto Andorno (2007) Ethics and Law of Intellectual Property: Current Problems in Politics, Science and Technology (Applied Legal Philosophy), Ashgate, p.84.
  9. Heinemann Educational Publishers (2007) Perspectives on Science: The History, Philosophy and Ethics of Science.
  10. Kok, F. (2007) Personalized Nutrition: Principles and Applications, p.167.
  11. Green R.M. (2007) Babies by Design: The Ethics of Genetic Choice. New Haven: Yale University Press.
  12. Petróczi, A. (2007). "Attitudes and doping: a structural equation analysis of the relationship between athletes' attitudes, sport orientation and doping behaviour Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 2(34): doi:10.1186/1747-597X-2-34.
  13. Davids, K. and J. Baker (2007). "Genes, Environment and Sport Performance: Why the Nature-Nurture Dualism is no Longer Relevant." Sports Medicine 37(11): 961-980.
  14. Mitchell, C. B., E. D. Pellegrino, et al. (2007). Biotechnology and the Human Good. Washington, DC., Georgetown University Press.
  15. TWINE, R. (2007) Thinking across species - a critical bioethics approach to enhancement. Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics, 28, 509-523.
  16. D'ANDREA, A. C. (2006) Federalizing Bioethics. Texas Law Review, 83, 1663.
  17. Houlihan, B.M.J. (2006) GMA Review, European Physical Education Review, 12(3), 382-384.
  18. Foddy, B. (2006), 'The ethics of genetic testing in sport', International SportsMed Journal, 7, 3, 216-224.
  19. Cavanagh, S. L. and H. Sykes (2006). "Transsexual Bodies at the Olympics: The International Olympic Committee's Policy on Transsexual Athletes at the 2004 Athens Summer Games." Body & Society 12(3): 75-102.
  20. Parks, J. B., J. Quarterman, et al., Eds. (2006). Contemporary Sport Management (Third Edition). Champaign, IL., Human Kinetics.
  21. Sheridan, H., B. Pasveer, et al. (2006). "Gene-Talk and Sport-Talk: A View from the Radical Middle Ground." European Journal of Sport Science 6(4): 223-230.
  22. Culbertson, L. (2006). "Book Review: Genetically Modified Athletes." Journal of the Philosophy of Sport 33(1).
  23. Tamburrini, C. (2006). "Are Doping Sanctions Justified? A Moral Relativistic View." Sport in Society 9(2): 199-211.
  24. Atkinson, M. (2006). "Book Review: Genetically Modified Athletes." Sport in Society 9(1): 172-175.
  25. Shanks, Pete. (2005) Human Genetic Engineering: A Guide for Activists, Skeptics and the Very Perplexed, Nation Books.
  26. Moates, A. (2005). "Sports Medicine and Ethics." Chisholm Health Ethics Bulletin 11(2): 6-9.
  27. Pincock, S. (2005). "Gene Doping." The Lancet: Special Supplement on Sport and Medicine 366(S18-S19).
  28. Belyaletdinov, R.R. (2005) Divnyi novyi sport (Brave New Sports), Chelovek, #5, 169-173 [Russian Academy of Science]
  29. Jonsson, Kutte. (2005) Cyborgatleterna äh här?! Om genus, “genfuskare” och idrottens hybrider, Idrottsforum, 1-13.
  30. Ellliott, C. (2005) The Soul of a New Machine: Bioethicists in the Bureaucracy, Cambridge Quarterly for Healthcare Ethics; 14:4. 379-384.
  31. Ian Ritchie (2005) Book Review." Sociology of Sport Journal, 22, 239-241.
  32. Osborn, G. (2005). Uphill race for GM sprinters? Book Review. Times Higher Education Supplement. London: 24.
  33. Cutter, A. M. (2005). "Book Review." Genomics, Society and Policy 1(2): 94-96.
  34. Festeu, D. (2005) Book Review, GMA, European Sport Management Quarterly, 5(1), 95-97.
  35. Cashmore, E. (2005) Making Sense of Sports. London & New York: Routledge
  36. Donais, M. (2005) Book Review, Yale Journal of Public Health
  37. Pederson, I. K. (2005). "Book Review." Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports 15: 65-66.
  38. Jönsson, K. (2004). "Genetiskt modifierade idrottare." Idrottsforum 26 October: http://idrottsforum.org/reviews/items/jonkut_gma.html.
  39. Hilvoorde, Ivo van. (2004) Topsport en gendoping. Grenzen aan sport, opsporing en geloofwaardigheid. In Krisis. Tijdschrift voor empirische filosofie, 5(4), 5-21.
  40. Ozyener, F. (2004). "Book Review:." Journal of Sports Science and Medicine 3: 197.
  41. Hosta, M. (2004). "Book Review of Genetically Modified Athletes." Druzboslovne Razprave 20(46).
  42. Turner, L. (2004, August 13). Book Review: Ready, Steady…Modify, The Lancet 364:9434, pp.573-4.
  43. Tooby-Smith, A. (13 July, 2004) Gene Doping, British Association of Sports Medicine Today, 2.
  44. McNamee, M. J. (2004). "Philosophy of Sport." Nursing Philosophy 5(2): 182-183.
  45. Córdova, M. Á. (2004). ATLETAS TRANSGÉNICOS: ¿MITO O REALIDAD? Presente: Diario Del Sureste. Mexico: http://www.diariopresente.com.mx/Portal/ArticleView.php?article_id=9919

Journal of Medical Humanities

Miah, A. (2006). "Doctor, Can You Fix My Broken Heart?" Journal of Medical Humanities 27(2): 127-129.This article began after watching the wonderful film 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' directed by Michel Gondry. It was not the first time I have thought about the way film can convey ethical issues related to medical technologies. One of the other films that sticks in my mind is Extreme Measures. There are many more and this review essay is now being developed into a more substantive article for an edited volume by Sandra Shapsay entitled 'Bioethics through Film', which will be published with Johns Hopkins University Press.

Is sport winning the war on drugs? (The Guardian, 2 August, 2006)

Miah, A. (2006). Is Sport Winning the War on Drugs? No. The Guardian. London: p.7. The press is in a bit of a frenzy this week over the doping issue. I arrived back in the UK to receive a bunch of calls from journalists wanting to interview. One of these was Duncan MacKay at The Guardian who asked me to write a response to the above question. The piece is published in today's Guardian alongside the counter position written by Dr John Scott at UK Sport.

Genetic Technology and Sport: Ethical Questions

Ethical Questions On Friday 5th May, Claudio Tamburrini and Torbjorn Tannsjo launched the new Routledge title on Gene Doping. I have a chapter in this book on some of the recent debates surrounding the subject and the book covers a range of issues as yet not discussed by previous literature. The launch took place in Oxford at a project meeting of the ENHANCE project. I don't think I've ever been to a meeting where I've known quite so many people this well. It was great to catch up with old friends. I look forward to the next one.

PS: The most exciting aspect of the meeting was learning about Cludio's new movie, but more on that later!

PPS: the reference for my chapter in the book:

Miah, A. (2005). Gene Doping: The Shape of Things to Come. Genetic Technology and Sport: Ethical Questions. C. Tamburrini and T. Tannsjo. Oxon and New York, Routledge: 42-53.

Encyclopedia of Science, Technology and Ethics

Carl Mitcham's new encyclopedia for Macmillan was published late last year. I was asked to write a submission on 'Sport Technology'. Miah, A. (2005) Sport Technology, in Mitcham, C. The Encyclopedia of Science, Technology and Ethics (Macmillan).

I'm still waiting for my library to receive its order of this collection. In the mean time, if anyone knows the page numbers of my entries, please let me know!

Sport and Medicine, The Lancet

This week, the leading medical journal, The Lancet, Published a special supplement on sport and medicine. Its contents include a number of ethical commentaries including:

Essay: Prosthetics for athletes
McCarvill S
pages S10-S11

Feature: Gene doping
Pincock S
pages S18-S19

Viewpoint: Legalisation of performance-enhancing drugs
Kayser B, Mauron A, Miah A
page S21

Essay: Transsexual athletes—when is competition fair?
Ljungqvist A, Genel M
pages S42-S43

Making Sports Virtual

How long will it be before we ditch the sports arena and compete as athletes - or view as spectators - within an entirely virtual reality? This is the subject of a new book I am writing for The MIT Press, tentatively titled 'CyberSport: Digital Games, Ethics and Cultures'. It will be written with a colleague of mine in Australia, Dr Dennis Hemphill. The subject of this book will feature in a Sky One (television) production to be broadcast on December 2 in the United Kingdom. The programme is about sport and technology generally, and it rounds off with a segment about the prospect of making sports virtual.

This project develops some thoughts that have been hanging around for the last five years. An early example of how they work out can be found in this piece:

Miah, A. (2002) Immersion and Abstraction in Virtual Sport, Research in Philosophy and Technology, 21, 225-233

Andy MIah Sky One Documentary on Digital Technology and Sport (2005, Dec)

Doping & the Child

In April this year, I published a brief commentary about the American Academy of Pediatrics statement on performance-enhancing drugs in sport. This commentary was extended and published in the Sept 10 issue of The Lancet. Full reference as follows: Miah, A. (2005, Sept 10). "Doping and the child: an ethical policy for the vulnerable." The Lancet 366: 874-876.

Is 'Gene Doping' Wrong?

This is the title of an article I recently published with Project Syndicate. Rather than repeat the entire article here, I will just paste links to its various translations: Is 'Gene Doping' Wrong? (English, by Andy Miah)

¿Es inaceptable el “dopaje genético”? (Spanish, Translated by Carlos Manzano)

Что плохого в «генетическом допинге»? (Russian, Translated by Николай Жданович)

Faut-il condamner le dopage génétique ? (French, Translated by Bérengère Viennot)

Ist „Gendoping“ verwerflich? (German, Translated by Anke Püttmann)

Je „genetický doping“ nesprávný? (Czech, Translated by Jiří Kobělka)

“基因兴奋剂”错了吗？ (Chinese, Translated by 许彬彬)

هل "تنشيط الجينات" خطأ؟ (Arabic, Translated by Ibrahim M. Ali

Vol 7 of C@tO

Volume 7 of Culture at the Olympics has just been published. The contents are proceedings from a symposium that took place at University of Glasgow in June 2005, in association with London 2012. Contents as follows:

7.1 Exploring Internationalism: Scotland responds to London's Olympic Vision for Culture in 2012 pp1-8
7.2 Welcome Presentation, pp.9-11 by Professor Adrienne Scullion
7.3 Special Address, pp.12-16 by Patricia Ferguson, Member of Scottish Parliament
7.4 Olympism and Internationalism, pp.17-23 by Jude Kelly, Chair Culture & Education, London 2012
7.5 Culture at the Olympics: Intangible, invisible, but impacting, pp.24-34 by Beatriz Garcia & Andy Miah
[Also access the powerpoint presentation in pdf (8mb)]
7.6 Discussion Session [transcript], pp.35-55 edited by Beatriz Garcia

More on Genetic Tests for Performance

A few months ago, I posted on the use of genetic tests in the AFL. Since my very first talk about genomics and sport in 1999 at the First International Conference on Human Rights and Sport, I have been arguing on this subject. In 2003, the Australian Law Reforms Commission wrote about the potential for discrimination arising from genetic tests in sport. This issue has arisen again in the context of the Australian Football League. Reports indicate that Port Adelaide and Essendon are considering the use of genetic tests to 'predict' the capacity of 'natural physical attributes'. The Age (Sydney) reported that each test would cost around AU$750 and AFL Players' Association president, Brendon Gale, has argued that such tests would be contrary to privacy laws in Australia. This issues seems about to, ahem, 'kick off' in Australia and few other countries have yet to really think it through.

Certainly, employment law might be a reasonable avenue for action within the UK, though where this takes place with young athletes, it seems likely to fall within the realm of parental consent.

Some of this relates to a piece I published a few years ago on this subject:

Miah, A. (2001) Genetics, Law & Athletes' Rights, Sports Law Bulletin 4(5), pp.10-12 Available here: http://www.media.paisley.ac.uk/andymiah/Miah2001GeneTest.pdf

The Public Autopsy

Miah, A. (2004). "The Public Autopsy: Somewhere Between Art, Education and Entertainment." Journal of Medical Ethics 30: 576-579. Miah, A. (2003). "Dead Bodies for the Masses: The British Public Autopsy & the Aftermath" CTHEORY E119

In November 2002, Gunter von Hagens conducted a public autopsy in London, UK. Legally, it was all a bit suspect, but it was a fascinating event. This media moment took place soon after von Hagens had exhibited his plastinated bodies in the UK.

Since then, he has presented a series of programmes on UK TV called 'Anatomy for Beginners', which was considerably more professional and valuable, as an indication of what medicine does. However, the entire process relies on his technological method of plastination, so identifying the realness of the process is no easy task.