Is Medicine Going Too Far? | Gene Editing, Panaceas, & the Torah w/Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner

The Wildescast

Rabbi Wildes is joined by Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner, Senior Rabbi and Executive Director of the Spiritual Care Department at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, where he is responsible for the chaplaincy team and all aspects of spiritual care throughout the health system. Being an expert in Jewish medical ethics, pastoral care, and health and wellness, Rabbi Weiner shares his thoughts on the future of medicine including the morality of the revolutionary technology of CRISPR Gene Editing which allows doctors to edit genetic DNA to cure all kinds of diseases such as sickle cell anemia but also comes with potential risks if the technology finds its way into the wrong hands. Rabbi Weiner also discusses the Torah's view on panaceas, (a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases), his experience donating a kidney, the government's role in regulating medicine, and the spiritual rewards that come with the arduous task of being exposed to death and suffering on a daily basis. Buy Rabbi Weiner's new book "Care and Covenant: A Jewish Bioethic of Responsibility" here: https://tinyurl.com/weinerbook Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introducing Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner 00:02:35 - Path to Becoming A Bioethicist 00:04:23 - Being Around Death & Suffering 00:07:35 - Balancing Being A Rabbi and a Bioethicist 00:10:00 - Torah Insights on Bioethics 00:15:30 - Experience Donating His Kidney 00:22:15 - Revolutionary CRISPR Gene Editing 00:30:10 - Torah View of Panaceas 00:33:30 - Biggest Risk to Humanity 00:36:12 - Government Regulation of Medicine 00:39:40 - Wisdom vs. Technology