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
What ethical debate surrounds abortion?
Pro-life vs pro-choice
What was the Gallup Poll result on abortion in 1999?
Prolife (42%), Prochoice (48%), Undecided (10%)
What is a significant scientific consideration in the abortion debate?
When does human life begin?
What legal issue is raised in the abortion debate?
Is the unborn a person?
What percentage of people feel strongly pro-choice?
26%
What percentage of people have no strong opinion on abortion?
45%
What is a key question regarding the beginning of human life?
When does human life begin?
What legal question is raised regarding the unborn?
Is the unborn a person?
According to medical textbooks, what is a zygote?
The beginning of a new human being (i.e., an embryo)
What significant event marks the beginning of human development?
Fertilization
Who stated that life is present from the moment of conception?
Dr. Hymie Gordon (Mayo Clinic)
When does the fetal heart begin to form?
18 days after conception
When can a measurable heartbeat be detected after conception?
21-24 days
When do brain waves begin to be produced in a fetus?
6 weeks
What percentage of abortions occur after the fetus exhibits measurable brain waves?
78%
According to California Penal Code Section 187, what is murder?
The unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with malice aforethought.
What is the main conclusion about human life in relation to conception?
Human life begins at conception
What is a significant ethical code related to human experimentation established in 1947?
Nuremberg Code
Fill in the blank: The Declaration of _______ was issued as a development on the Oath of Hippocrates.
Geneva
What is the title of the guidelines issued by CIOMS in 1993?
International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects
What is the universal declaration related to bioethics issued by UNESCO in 2005?
Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights
True or False: Most abortions occur before the fetal brain waves begin.
False
