Topic 3 Flashcards
Definition of ethics
- Study of ethical and moral implications
- Of new biological discovered and biomedical advances
What is human infertifility
- Couple can’t conceive a child
- In UK 1 in 7 couples may have difficulty conceiving
What is IVF and what does it stand for?
- In vitro fertilisation
- egg cell is fertilised by sperm cell in a lab inside a test tube then places into the woman’s uterus
Why are spare embryos an issue during fertility treatment?
- Sanctity of life
- What happens to these spare embryos?
What are issues surrounding designer babies from fertility treatments?
- Embryo modified to produce desirable qualities
- Can be used to get rid of hereditary diseases
- Illegal but can raise ethical implications
Why is identity an issue during fertility treatment?
- Child born from donor will not be related to mother and father
- Cause implications and emotional damage if the child finds out
What is parent IVF
Baby made from 2 woman and 1 man
What is the Warnock report
- Couple can decide what to do with their spare embryos
- Used for research or destroyed within 14 days
What is the HFEA?
- Human fertilisation and embryology act
- Set up in 1990 to provide guidelines for embryo treatment and research
- 2008 = Allowed same sex couples to have the right to have both partners name on the babies birth certificate, and banned sex selection
What is one advantage of genetic experimentation
- Discovered more about genetic disease + disorders
- Can now alter or replace genes to help people suffering from genetic diseases
What does the Catholic Church say about embryo experimentation
- Life begins at conceptions
- Against embryo experimentation
What does the Church of England say about embryo experimentation
- Accepts under certain circumstances
- To alleviate human suffering
What does the church of Ireland say about embryo experimentation
- Unacceptable to create embryos for research with intentions of destroying it
- Research into other stuff should be much higher priority
What is surrogacy
- Embryo placed into the uterus of a surrogate / host mother
- Baby is then handed over to the couple shortly after the birth
What are the 2 types of surrogacy
- Traditional = surrogates egg + donor sperm or sperm of partner
- Gestational = embryo created by IVF and implanted into uterus + surrogate has no genetic link to child
What are some issues arising from surrogacy ( 5 points )
- Surrogate could blackmail the family
- Surrogate could keep the baby as there is no legally binding document
- Christians churches think surrogacy is immoral and that children shouldn’t be created for adoption
- Child could have identity issues
- Surrogacy involves IVF techniques meaning spare embryos are used, what happens to the spare embryos
What does sanctity of life teach us about new reproductive technologies ( 3 points )
- Every human life sacred + precious
- We we’re all made in the image and likeness of god
- Treat all life as a gift that should be love and value
What does Jeremiah say about new reproductive technologies
“ I chose you before I gave you life “
Why does new reproductive technologies play god ( 3 points )
- Taught not to interfere with god’s plans
- IVF is doctors playing god
- Goes against teachings
What are the aims of the HFEA
- Ensure everyone who steps into the clinic high quality care
- This can be done by providing fair, clear and impartial information about fertility treatment, clinics, egg and sperm and embryo experimentation
What is regulation ( HFEA )
- Making sure fertility clinics and human embryo research centres follow the HFEA
- Every fertility clinic must also have a license to operate
What does the HFEA provide info on ( 5 points )
- Fertility treatments = e.g. IVF, using donated eggs and sperm, risks of the treatments and even having treatments abroad
- Egg freezing = How the process works, it’s success rate and risks
- Donating eggs and sperm = How to donate eggs, sperm or embry
- Researching clinic - How to choose a clinic, prepare for an appointment. A good clinic is with good staff and exceptional emotional support
