Ethical issues in genetics Flashcards
Abortion act
Abortion is legally allowed if:
The pregnancy has not exceeded 24 weeks and involves risk of injury to physical/mental health of the pregnant woman or any existing children
Termination is necessary to prevent serious permanent injury to the physical/mental health of the pregnant woman
Continuing pregnancy would involve risk to the pregnant woman’s life
There is a substantial risk the child would suffer from physical or mental abnormalities and be seriously handicapped.
Arguments about the use of reproductive technology
Unnatural - involving a 3rd person in what should be an act between 2 people. Interfering with the natural process
Discards embryos - unwanted embryos are discarded, effectively an abortion.
Shows lack of respect for human life - Life begins at conception, choosing which embryos are allowed to develop, discarding show lack of respect.
Discourages research into causes of interility of treatment is in place to ‘by-pass’ it.
Criteria where embryo testing is legally permissible
Establishing an abnormality that will reduce the risk of a live birth
Where there is risk of an abnormality which will result in serious disability or illness in the child
Selecting sex where there is a gender-related abnormality which causes serious disability or illness.
To determine tissue compatibility with a sibling who could be treated with the child’s tissue -excludes whole organs.
Critera where embryo selection is legally permissible
Can select against embryo abnormalities found in testing (including gender)
Can select in favour of tissue compatible embryos
Prohibits sex selection of embryos due to parent preference
Prohibits selection of embryos with abnormalities in favour of those without.
