Embryo research: the ethical geography of the debate.
Three basic political positions on embryo research will be identified as libertarian, conservative, and social-democratic. The Human Embryo Research Panel will be regarded as an expression of the social-democratic position. A taxonomy of the ethical issues addressed by the Panel will then be developed at the juncture of political and ethical modes of reflection. Among the arguments considered will be those for the separability of the abortion and embryo research debates; arguments against the possibility of the preembryo being a person, especially arguments associated with totipotency and the significance of the primitive streak; and the various reasons for regulating embryo research, including those associated with respect for the preembryo, the protection of traditional views of human procreation, and the prevention of commercialization.
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Department of Philosophy, University of South Carolina, Columbia 29208, USA.
D026683:Advisory Committees; D033421:Beginning of Human Life; D032921:Consensus; D033041:Embryo Research; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D035082:Federal Government; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D019369:Life; D028681:Moral Obligations; D033281:Nontherapeutic Human Experimentation; D028723:Personhood; D011057:Politics; D035845:Research Embryo Creation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D038522:Twinning, Monozygotic; D026712:Value of Life