4. Moral status of human embryo Flashcards
Why consider the moral status of the embryo?
Unresolved moral debates over the significance and status of human embryos
Views on this issue link in to views on other ethically contentious issues e.g. abortion, cloning, stem cell research
These debates are political as well as personal, national as well and individual.
Because this area of science and medicine is rapidly expanding there are new issues emerging all the time, e.g. Mitochondrial transplant, research, IVF…
Can you object to someone’s abortion as their doctor?
You can decide not to take part in providing their abortion - this is called conscientious objection to participation in treatment - but you must refer them to someone else who can provide one. You must be able to justify and articulate why you do not want to participate in the treatment.
Why is there a 14 day limit on research on embryos?
Because twinning can no longer occur after 14 days, before this twinning can occur so you could be affecting two potential lives.
What is moral status?
An entity has moral status if and only if it or its interests morally matter to some degree for the entity’s own sake.
Utilitarian definition of moral status
Having moral status means that one’s interests (extent, duration of pleasures/pains etc) must be factored into the utility calculations of other people/society as a whole.
Non-utilitarian definition of moral status
Having moral status means that there are reasons, independent of the consequences, for treating an entity with respect, and acting in its interests.
What is the point of viability?
24 weeks, this is usually the last stage at which an abortion can be carried out in the UK
Development milestones
Primitive Streak – 14-15 days
Quickening – 13-16 weeks
Abortion currently legal up to 24 weeks – the point of viability
What is the biological humanity point of view?
we have moral status because we are humans
but - human DNA?? even random hair cells?? moment of conception - when??
What is Warren’s personhood view?
Persons have sentience rationality, capacity, language, embryos don’t have this
but - what about PVS, learning disabilities, babies?
Feinberg’s interests view
To have interests an entity must be sentient - the capacity for having experiences of any kind
embryo can’t be sentient - no nervous system thus no awareness or experience
What did Don Marquis say about future like ours
wrong to deprive embryo from a future like ours - killing a person in a temporary coma (no interests or sentience) is wrong
but - we can have interests which should be respected even if we’re not aware of them - don’t need permanent, conscious awareness of our interests
Does an embryo have moral status?
Human biology - Yes
Personhood - No
Interests - No
Future like ours - questionable
Arguments against mitochondrial donation
designer babies?
destruction of donor embryos
rushed vote
Arguments in favour of mt donation
healthy babies
