Introducing Ethical Issues In Reproductive Medicine

Question 1

Reproductive ethics

Answer 1

Beginning and end of lives

Relevant interests :

Parents
Future or existing children
Third parties I.e. State

Question 2

ART

Answer 2

Assisted reproductive technology

Question 3

Arguments for ART

Answer 3

• procreative autonomy

- welfare interests

Question 4

Objections to IVF

Answer 4

1- involves destruction of embryos

2- harmful to those trying to conceive

3- is unnatural

4-

Question 5

Interests of future child …

Answer 5

If as a result of being conceived Is child is likely to suffer physical or psychological harm then would be hard to justify provision of treatment as being in child’s best interest

Question 6

Right to open future

Answer 6

Dilemmas should be resolved so as to ensure children have a maximally open future - enjoy the widest possible range of opportunities - used to justify not using embryos with serious disabilities

Question 7

Human and fertilisation and embryology act - 1990

Answer 7

A woman shall not be provided with fertility treatment unless account has been taken for welfare of any child who is born as a result incl need of that child for a father

Question 8

Welfare criterion critised

Answer 8

• fertile couples don’t have to meet this criterion ( perhaps they should have to , distinguish between positive and negative rights , )
• research suggest that a father is not always required for a child to flourish ( HFEA 2008 replaces reference to the need for a father with the need for supportive parents

Question 9

Third party interests

Answer 9

ART can be expensive

Child may be conceived that places high burdens on the state in terms of providing for the child

Question 10

Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)

Answer 10

Less contentious uses of PGD - to avoid genetic disease

More contentious uses -

• sex selection
• feasible but futuristic uses of PGD - based on intelligence
• saviour siblings - selecting an embryo who can make a suitable donor for an existing sibling

Question 11

Mitochondrial replacement techniques

Answer 11

Children born with mitochondria disorders - 1 in 6500

Prevent mutated mitochondria from affected women from being passed onto her children

Works by creating an IVF embryo that replaces the faulty mitochondria with healthy ones from a donor

Question 12

Ethical issues raised with MRT

Answer 12

Health benefits to future child
Benefit to parents
Concerns regarding health risks to children - I.e residual mitochondria in DNA - minimal risk
Do MRTs constitute germ line / genetic modifications
March 2017 first UK license to use MRT granted to Newcastle clinic

Question 13

Ending lives - abortion

Answer 13

Abortion act 1967 (amended 1990)

legal if 2 practitioners are of same opinion formed in good faith

• pregnancy not exceeded 24 weeks and continuation of pregnancy would involve risk greater than if pregnancy were terminated
• necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to physical or mental health of pregnant woman
• continuation of pregnancy would invoke risk to life of the pregnant woman
• substantial risk that child born would suffer from physical or mental abnormalities so as to be seriously handicapped

Question 14

Pro life argument

Answer 14

• abortion ends life of a fetus
• human fetus has the same moral status as a person
• it is wrong to end life of a person / creature with the moral status or a person

Therefore abortion is morally wrong to