Speaking calendar/Rare Disease Day
February 28th · Cultural Insight

Rare Disease Day

The orphan of medicine. This is a high-stakes debate on the economics of empathy. We explore why pharmaceutical companies ignore rare diseases (because they aren't profitable) and the ethical duty of society to protect the invisible few.

SPEAKING LESSONB1 / B2Discussion · Vocabulary · Activities
01 / LET’S TALK

Speaking Discussion

  1. Should medical research be a non-profit human right, rather than a corporate business?
  2. Is it fair to spend $10 million to save 1 person with a rare disease, or should that money be used to save 10,000 people with a common one?
  3. How does rareness affect a person's identity? Does it make them feel unique or alone?
  4. Should the government force companies to research orphan drugs (drugs for rare diseases) even if they lose money?
  5. If you had an invisible illness, would you tell the world, or keep it as your secret strength?
02 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE

Activity 1: The Ethical Auditor

The Task: Define the price of a life. Write 3 sentences explaining whether profit should ever be a factor in medical decisions. Who should decide?

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Debate

Is empathy more important than efficiency?