Final answer:
Old people are likely to support strong patents on pharmaceuticals as they generally need more medical support, and strong patents can drive innovation in the medical industry. Ethical discussions around patents consider their impact on R&D, costs, and overall patient wellbeing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Old people are more likely to support strong patents on pharmaceuticals based purely on self-interest. This is due to the direct correlation between age and the need for medical support; older individuals tend to require more medication and healthcare services. As such, they have a vested interest in the development of innovative drugs that can be facilitated by strong patent protection.
Patents serve as an incentive for pharmaceutical companies to invest in expensive and time-consuming research and development (R&D). The 21-year patent protection period is designed to balance the ability for the inventor to earn an adequate return on investment and prevent them from maintaining a permanent monopoly. It's argued that reduced patent protection could potentially decrease R&D efforts, leading to fewer breakthrough treatments.
Nevertheless, ethical debates persist regarding the morality of gene patenting and its impacts on society. Philosophers question whether these patents stimulate scientific progress or whether they impede it by fostering secrecy and commercial interests. The latter could lead to increased costs of medical testing and treatments for patients, which is particularly concerning for the older population that relies on these innovations for their health and wellbeing.