T2 L4 The moral status of the embryo Flashcards
Why do we need to consider the moral status of the embryo?
Unresolved moral debates over the significance and status of the human embryo
Views on this issue link to views on other ethical issues e.g. abortion, cloning, stem cell research
Debates are political, personal, national and individual
Area of science and medicine is rapidly expanding so new issues are constantly arising
What common questions should be asked when considering the moral status of the embryo?
When does life begin?
When does life become morally significant?
What makes life morally significant?
What is the main point for doctors in the abortion act?
No person is under any duty to participate in treatment authorised by this Act to which he has a conscientious objection
What issues were discussed in the committee of inquiry into human fertilisation and embryology?
Ethical status of emerging reproductive techniques
Donation, freezing and use of eggs, embryo and sperm
Surrogacy
Research
Why is the recommended limit for embryo research 14 days?
Period of time when twinning can occur
Before the primitive streak forms and gastrulation occurs
What is the utilitarian view on moral status?
Having moral status means that one’s interests (extent, duration of pleasures / pains) must be factored into the utility calculations of other peoples / society as a whole
What is the non-utilitarian view on moral status?
Having moral status means there are reasons, independent of the consequences, for treating an entity with respect and acting in its interests
What is Warnock’s position?
No particular part of the developmental process is more important than another
Unless each stage takes place normally, at the correct time and in the correct sequence, further development will cease
Biologically, there isn’t 1 single identifiable stage in the development of the embryo beyond which the in vitro embryo shouldn’t be kept alive
Describe life as a continuum
Conception –> individuation –> primitive streak –> quickening –> security of pregnancy –> viability –> birth –> personhood
Describe the biological humanity view
We have moral status as we are human
What counts as human life and when does it start? It can’t just be human DNA otherwise every individual cell in our body would qualify. Also not the moment of conception as this is lengthy and complex
Describe the personhood view
Mary Elizabeth Warren Persons have: -sentience -rationality -capacity for moral agency -language
Embryos lack these features
What is sentience?
Capacity for feeling or perceiving
What is rationality?
Quality of being based or in accordance with reason or logic
What is capacity for moral agency?
Ability to make moral judgements based on notion of right or wrong
Why is personhood not a valid view?
It would exclude many individuals such as infants, severely disabled or those in a coma
Describe the interests view
Joel Feinberg
Interest principle - rights are intended to protect interests
Interests involve having stakes in things
To have interests, an entity must be sentient to have the capacity for having experiences
Why can’t an embryo be sentient?
It has no nervous system so it has no awareness or experience
Describe the future like ours view
Don Marquis
Interest view fails as it can’t explain why killing a person in a temporary coma is wrong
An embryo or foetus can’t take interest in anything but it does have an interest in living out its life
Unlike an embryo we have interests which should be respected, even if we aren’t fully conscious of them
Does the embryo have a moral status according to human biology?
Yes
Does the embryo have a moral status according to personhood?
No
Does the embryo have a moral status according to interests?
No
Does the embryo have a moral status according to future like ours?
Questionable
What are some perspectives on mitochondrial donation?
Future generations as mitochondrial transplant will affect the children of the babies born as a result of the donation
Designer babies
Religious opposition due to destruction of donor embryos
Cost
What is Robert Winston’s view on mitochondrial donation?
It’s similar to transfusing RBC in severe anaemia
If mitochondrial treatments can prevent diseases then this needs to be celebrated
We aren’t altering a child’s characteristics of enhancing humans in any way.