Beginning of life

Question 1

• ethical and legal issues surrounding the status of the embryo and foetus, and areas of contention and debate including possible maternal–foetal conflict
• concepts of personhood
• ethical, legal and professional aspects of contraception, artificial reproductive technologies, termination of pregnancy and neonatal care
• ethical issues associated with preimplantation/prenatal testing and embryo selection, genetic testing and screening
• after birth

Answer 1

.

Who should be parents?

What is the remit of assisted reproduction?

Should we choose our children?

What is the status of the embryo and foetus?

How important is maternal autonomy?

Question 2

Assisted reproduction techniques (6)

Answer 2

Artificial insemination
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) 
Gamete donation
Embryo donation
Use of artificial gametes
Reproductive cloning

Question 3

Why may assisted reproduction (e.g. IVF) be used (6)

Answer 3

Treatment of infertility
Single and same sex parents
Prevention of inherited conditions
Sex selection
“Designer babies”

Question 4

Define infertility

Answer 4

Trying for a year and still can’t conceive

Question 5

Why may people want ‘designer babies’ (4)

Answer 5

To choose a specific sex

To avoid an inherited genetic anomaly

To seek disability (deaf or achondroplastic parents may want their child to be the same as them)

Saviour sibling

Question 6

Arguments against sex selection

Answer 6

Undermining the status of women

Against nature

Question 7

Why is egg freezing done

Answer 7

Because fertility decreases with age so it’s good to freeze your eggs when young (peak around 21) when your most fertile

Question 8

What does the reproduction industry refer to

Answer 8

Donor gametes

Surrogates

Question 9

When does life begin according to the HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority)

Answer 9

14 days when the primitive streak forms

Question 10

Why may abortion be seen as something positive in certain situations

Answer 10

Unwanted pregnancy can harm physical & mental heath

Question 11

Why may abortion be seen as something negative

Answer 11

Denial of the rights of the embryo/foetus

Eliminating the potential for life

Question 12

Invasive types of pre-natal screening

Answer 12

Chorionic biopsy

Amniocentesis

Question 13

Miscarriage v premature birth

Answer 13

Miscarriage is before 24wks

Question 14

Criteria for a baby being resuscitated

Answer 14

If born after 24wks because risk of developing disability is extremely high if born before 24wks