Genetic screening and reproductive choice: is making a child to save another unethical?
During 2002, the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) in England, which regulates in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics, agreed to allow a family to attempt to create a baby genetically selected to help treat a desperately ill child. The media reaction against this HFEA decision has shown profound outrage, expressing that having a child for the sake of the other is improper, immoral and 'against human dignity'. Other claims were, "we should protect vulnerable human life", and "human beings should not be treated 'as a means to an end"'. None of these moral claims however, stand rational and coherent scrutiny. Thus, this paper maintains that making a child to save the life of his brother is not only ethically permissible but it would rather be unethical NOT to do so.
Simonstein
Frida
F
Centre for Social Ethics and Policy, School of Law, University of Manchester, UK.
D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000941:ethics; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006077:Government Agencies; D006801:Humans; D046269:Reproductive Rights / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D035781:Siblings; D006113:United Kingdom