Reproductive Ethics

Reproductive Ethics

New Reproductive Technologies

In vitro fertilization/Artificial insemination, etc., etc.

Types of Parenthood:

a) Genetic Mother

b) Genetic Father

c) Gestational Mother

d) Nurturing Mother

e) Nurturing Father

No longer need A, C, and D to be the same woman

Which one is the "real" parent?

Reproductive Ethics

How far should we control our own reproduction?

Cloning

Genetic altering of cloned material

Sperm/egg "catalogues"

What do we do with non-implanted embryos?

Can sperm be harvested post-mortem and used for reproduction?

Reproductive Ethics & the New Reproductive

Technologies

Issues:

1) Parenthood: who's the "real" parent?

2) Surrogate Parenthood

Should it be allowed?

If allowed, what are the conditions for a surrogate parenthood contract?

Right of first refusal

Health of Gestational Mother

What if there are defects? Who's responsible

Reproductive Ethics & the New Reproductive

Technologies

2) Surrogate Parenthood (cont.)

Does the surrogate mother have rights to the child post partum?

The status of the surrogate mother is dependant on her role, e.g. provider of the womb, provider of the egg(s)

Cases: Baby M and Mary Beth Whitehead

Reproductive Ethics & the New Reproductive

Technologies

3) Cloning

For: Ideal candidate for transplants

Replacing lost children

Selecting traits

Against: Against Nature or God

Non-natural means of reproduction

Reduces genetic diversity

Produces "designer children"

Reproductive Ethics & the New Reproductive

Technologies

3) Cloning (cont.)

Related Issue: Genetic altering of cloned material

Possible problem: "age" of clone

Other issues:

status of first cloned cells

status of mature human clone

Reproductive Ethics & the New Reproductive

Technologies

4) Sperm/Egg "Catalogues"

5) What do we do with non-implanted embryos?

6) What is the moral status of being from fertilized egg to embryo to birth?

Should there be research on embryos?

Does it have the right to be implanted, to thrive, to not be harmed?

Should frozen embryos be thought of as property? Davis case

Reproductive Ethics & the New Reproductive

Technologies

7) Can sperm be harvested post-mortem and used for reproduction?

8) At what point does the number of children born at one time become unacceptable? Septuplets? Octuplets? Nonuplets?

9) Is there an upper limit on the age of the mother? 55? 60? 65?

10)Are there unacceptable reasons for having children, e.g. Ayala case?

1) When does personhood begin?

Personhood = Has the right to life

= Has the right to develop

= Has the right not to be harmed

Abortion

Some answers:

a) At conception

b) When electrical activity begins

c) At "quickening"

d) At viability: the end of the 2nd trimester (24 weeks)

Usually means :national viability," not needing elaborate technical support

Currently, babies can be saved after about 21 weeks, 1000-1500 grams

Abortion

2) What kind of question is "when does personhood begin?"

a) A scientific question

b) A religious or philosophical question

3) Whenever personhood begins, does anything override it?

a) Harm to the mother?

b) A woman's right to control her own body?