Right to a child
Different issues Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) – the right to design your embryo to be a certain sex or free from certain diseases. IVF treatments – the right to choose to conceive and raise a child.
Ethical issues Consequences – for society - for the individual Choice – implications for individual - should choice be limited to mothers deemed suitable? Cost – implications for society (eg NHS free treatment means money can’t be spent elsewhere)
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmOG_nMkVEQ&NR=1
Arguments against PGD A new form of eugenics which will have social consequences eg perfect versus imperfect children. A slippery slope will develop eg parents screen for gender (legal in USA). Expensive, so only a right for the wealthy. Affects the justice argument (in Situation Ethics love and justice are the same).
Arguments for PGD Establishes possibility of eliminating serious disease and abnormality. General welfare increases. Increases chances of older women conceiving – so fewer experience misery of infertility. Slippery slope can be halted eg in UK it’s illegal to screen for gender.
IVF treatment Takes different forms. Injection of sperm into egg does not necessarily involve multiple embryos. Costs around £8,000 a cycle (of three attempts). Different trusts have different policies. All trusts have an ethics board that will deny treatment to unsuitable parents (see handout for the legal basis).
A universal right? No.. a limited right. Limited by cost to a certain number of cycles (maximum three). Limited by age of mother (mostly 35 years old if NHS funded). Limited by suitability – hospital ethics committees have power of refusal if mother deemed “unsuitable”.
Here’s the science of one type of IVF (the type that wastes embryos) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WypK9TpD34&feature=related But note that single sperm can be directly injected into the egg – thus avoiding embryo wastage, as in this photo, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI),
Daily Mail March 24th 2011 Only nine of the 151 health trusts fulfil national guidelines by offering women the opportunity to have up to three eggs fertilised outside the womb, government figures revealed. And four offer no treatment at all. The survey also showed that all but a few trusts have imposed tough criteria for free fertility treatment, rejecting patients who smoke or who already have children, including those from previous relationships. 45,000 cycles of IVF are performed in the UK each year. But the level of NHS provision means that more than 30,000 of these are conducted privately, at an average cost of about £2,000 per cycle. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1028430/Infertile-couples-denied-IVF-NHS-postcode-lottery-means-just-chance.html#ixzz1HWZRK8wQ
Arguments against Some Christians argue violates the sanctity of life by destroying embryos. Some Christians argue devalues human life by playing God. It’s costly – where do we draw the line (it’s not a disease but a treatment to establish a choice). Probability of success is only 25% for under 30s (or 50% with latest US embryo screening to select healthiest) and 10% for over 40s.
Anya Sizer argues for IVF as a Christian (2 minutes) http://www.channel4.com/programmes/4thoughttv/4od#3164032
Arguments for Increases happiness by giving hope to 14% of couples who cannot conceive naturally. Increases welfare/ reduces social cost by screening out diseases/disabilities. Gives autonomy and dignity to women. Establishes justice of every women’s right to choose.
Christian argument for IVF treatment doesn’t need to entail wasted embryos, or embryo screening. Gives a right to life to children who wouldn’t otherwise exist – still unique and loved. Increases the social good of happy family life – these children are much loved and wanted (see primary good of natural law – living in society).
Think..one thing you’ve learnt About the science of IVF treatments About the ethics of genetic screening About the limitations to the right to a child