Bioethics Flashcards
What does IVF stand for?
In Vitro Fertilization
When was IVF first made available?
1986
How many IVF children are estimated to be in the U.S.?
About 100,000
How many frozen embryos are there approximately in the U.S.?
About 400,000
How many frozen embryos are there in England?
52,000 (regulated by government)
What ethical issue arises from the creation of extra embryos in IVF?
Use for stem cell research
What did Celine Dion do with her embryos in 2000?
Frozen them during IVF procedure
What was the outcome of Celine Dion using her frozen embryos?
Gave birth to twins, Nelson and Eddy
What practice is often discouraged by experts in relation to surrogacy?
Using a surrogate mother unless absolutely necessary
What legal issue does surrogacy raise according to the HFEA?
The legal status of the surrogate mother as the child’s legal mother
What scandal occurred with a doctor in Connecticut regarding IVF?
Used his own sperm instead of the husband’s for the patient
What was the conclusion of the DNA test in the Connecticut IVF case?
The wife was the biological mother, but the husband was not the biological father
What is the concept of growing meat without animals related to?
Tissue engineering and lab-grown meat
What ethical concerns arise from cloning meat?
Potential for disturbing possibilities and unknown consumer preferences
What is bioethics?
The study of ethical issues and decision-making associated with the use of living organisms
What does ethics concern itself with?
Accepted rules and standards of human behavior in society
What is a goal of bioethics education?
Increasing respect for life
What are some areas bioethics covers in medicine?
- Patent of genes
- In vitro fertilization
- Prenatal genetic selection
- Cloning
- Stem cells
- Gene manipulation
- Euthanasia
What is a concern regarding genetically modified foods?
Are GM foods safe to eat?
What is the significance of the 1988 patent at Harvard University?
First patent for a transgenic animal, an oncomouse
What does prenatal genetic screening involve?
Testing embryos for genetic defects before implantation
What is amniocentesis used for?
To detect chromosomal abnormalities
What is phenylketonuria (PKU)?
A genetic disorder that impairs an enzyme converting phenylalanine to tyrosine
What does gene therapy aim to treat?
Genetic disorders that can be transmitted to offspring
