I very much enjoyed reading this post! I agree that the public opinion carries a great deal of weight and can be used to punish those who violate ethics, but that it could also be taken to an extreme when the lines of what is ethical and what is not becomes grey. That is not to say that this wasn't totally and completely unethical (obviously it was) but it is hard to say what should be done now. The way the Chinese government has set itself up as a credible source, and the lack of precedence for this situation makes the whole thing kind of murky. One thing is for certain, these twins will grow up with unwarranted and unsolicited attention from the medical community. The lack of consent is the primary issue I have with this study and it seems like the masses agree. The potential harm that some are willing to inflict on themselves in studies, does not translate to those who lack the ability or information to make an informed consent.