Current human evolution? (Introduction)

by Balance_Maintained , U.S.A., Saturday, March 28, 2015, 23:33 (3527 days ago) @ David Turell

Tony: What impact, if any, do you think modern medicine has had on evolution? And do you think it has been positive or negative?
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> The first thing I think of is the preservation of type 1 diabetes, insulin dependent. This is inheritable and we are creating a population of diabetics. I know of nothing positive.
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> Other than that I can tell you evolutionary theory played no role in my practice of medicine with this exception: I could explain to my black patients how their African origin gave them a metabolism which did not fit the Western diet resulting in a high incidence of high blood pressure and kidney failure. (70% 0f all dialysis in the US is with black patients).
> -Just playing the devil's advocate here, but IF evolution were true, than aren't Doctors actually working against the human race by increasing the survival and transmission rates of undesirable evolutionary traits? You mentioned diabetes, but what about other genetic diseases? Surely if survival of the fittest is correct (which I don't really believe) then the best course for the human race would be to let diseases kill whomever it is going to kill. Those that survive to breed pass on a resistance to the next generation. -
For the record, I am NOT advocating this.

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What is the purpose of living? How about, 'to reduce needless suffering. It seems to me to be a worthy purpose.