Oscar Pistorius was born without fibulas and had both legs amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old. A business student at the University of Pretoria, Pistorius runs with the aid of carbon-fibre artificial limbs and is the double amputee world record holder in the 100, 200 and 400 metres events. ``I don`t see myself as disabled,`` says Oscar, ``There`s nothing I can`t do that able-bodied athletes can do.`` But then the question is: do prosthetic limbs simply level the ground for Pistorius—``Bladerunner``, compensating for his disability, or do they give him an unacceptable advantage? As Jere´ Longman nicely put it: is he disabled, or too-abled? Should Oscar`s prosthetic devices be defined as therapy, or as enhancement? According to someone, such a distinction would be of pivotal importance, but is there really a hiatus between therapy and enhancement?
© Copyright 2008 Journal of Medical Ethics. Institute of Medical Ethics. All rights reserved.