This document discusses invitro fertilization (IVF) and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). PGD involves testing embryos for genetic diseases prior to implantation. It can reduce miscarriage rates and allow parents to select embryos without diseases. However, it also enables selection for non-medical traits and rejection of embryos deemed "undesirable," raising ethical issues around eugenics, discrimination, and defining moral status of embryos. The document examines perspectives from various worldviews including rights ethics, utilitarianism, religion, and law on matters concerning IVF, PGD, embryo research, and genetic selection.

1. 1
Invitro Fertilization (IVF)
&
Pre-Implantation Genetic
Diagnosis (PGD)

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Process of IVF
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3
PGD:
Genetic testing performed prior to embryo transfer
“The debate [around
PGD] has been building
since the late 1980s,
when doctors at
London's Hammersmith
Hospital learned how to
tease a cell from a 3-
day-old embryo and
study its chromosomes
for gender.”
(Zitner 2002) •Adds $2000 to IVF
•Reduces rate of miscarriages from 23% to 10%
•Does not increase chance of pregnancy

4. Commonly, more than 100 diseases
can be detected through testing,
including…
• Hemophilia A
• Muscular dystrophy
• Tay-Sachs disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Down Syndrome
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Removal of one cell for testing
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Viable and Desirable?
“This information is helping parents choose
which embryos they want--and which to reject
as unhealthy, or merely undesirable.” (Zitner 2002)
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Undesirable Embryos
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Disease Free
Embryos
• Frozen in storage
• Donated to
infertile couples
• Donated to stem
cell research/usage
Disease Carrying
Embryos
• Donated to research
• Discarded

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Impact (Part I)
7
I V F
F a c t u a l
* i n c r e a s e in m u lt ip le b ir t h s
* i n f e r t ile c o u p le s c a n r e p r o d u c e
* s u r r o g a t e p a r e n t h o o d
( w o m b d o n o r s , $ 2 8 K - $ 4 5 K )
P G D
* d e c r e a s e d r a t e o f s p e c i f ic
d is e a s e s in t h e p o p u la t io n
( r e f e r t o n e x t s l i d e )
* d e c r e a s e d r a t e o f m is c a r r ia g e

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Impact (Part II)
P G D
“GenRich” is controversial; it could be harmful or beneficial.
“["The Would ‘GenRich’] this selection will use technology (of gender) to ensure place that their our children society have on significantly a "slippery
more
advantages than the random mix of the gene pool, widening the gap between the rich and
poor.” slope" (Wagner to 2003)
other kinds of unacceptable selections? Possibly, but only if
The we wealthy continue citizens, to use whose this offspring powerful will become technology the “GenRich” without “…do a us thorough
a great service.
They analysis test these of technologies its ethical for justification us and even pay and enormous without sums a for professional
the privilege. In a way,
they standard function that as guinea clearly pigs for articulates the rest of humanity. a strong If set you of had moral to think values." of who you’d like to
test these technologies, what better group can you imagine? They’re well informed, (Scannell highly
2001)
motivated, eager, hard to coerce and they are definitely volunteers.” (Jonietz 2003)
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* p r o d u c t io n m e n t a lit y
* s t e m c e ll r e s e a r c h
* c h a lle n g e s b e g in in g o f lif e
* m a r k e t f o r g a m e t e s
* o c c u p a t io n o f s u r o g a t e m o t h e r h o o d
* p la y in g C r e a t o r
* " G e n R ic h "
I V F
* E u g e n ic s
* g e n e t ic s a r m s r a c e
* d is c r im in t a io n
* s lip p e r y s lo p e
A x i o l o g i c a l
Production mentality is a problem. “Where amniocentesis usually provides
information about a single fetus, embryo screening allows parents to judge and
reject many potential children at once. And because it bypasses the pain of abortion,
some fear it will be used too freely, coarsening attitudes toward the embryo.”
Fetuses become products rather than children. (Zitner 2002)
Fukuyama “The power defines to change eugenics the as, “future the deliberate of the breeding human of race people is, in for some
certain
selected ways, more heritable frightening traits.”
than the weapons of mass destruction we
“hear Human so genetic much engineering about today. raises It most is a directly weapon the of prospect mass creation.”
of a new kind of
eugenics, (Wagner with 2003)
all the moral implications with which that word is fraught, and
ultimately the ability to change human nature.” (Fukuyama 2002)
And On if scientists the potential in for one discrimination, nation are Hughes, genetically a Wayne altering State doctor, unborn
said:
children, “I went wouldn’t into it this be to hard help for people other nations with disease. to resist Last joining time
in a
‘genetic I checked, arms race’ your to develop gender a is new not generation a disease.”
better able to
compete in the global economy – or in war?” (Wagner 2003)
(Zitner 2002)

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World Views
…requires society
to make a decision
on when life begins.
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Rights Ethics
Utilitarianism
Ethics: The issues at hand…
Care Ethics
…weighing the goal of
pregnancy and live
birth against the
medical and moral risks
of multiple gestation.
…using PGD inherently makes assumptions about
the quality of life, challenging basic tenets of
society such as equality.

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• Address the suffering of the mother
due to her inability to have a child
“naturally”
• “When having children, people…
often roll the genetic dice and hope
for the best. With embryo sorting,
"they can start their pregnancy on
Day One with a commitment to
continuing it."
(Zitner 2002)
• PGD can save parents massive
heartbreak and financial strain
ethics
• Address the view of the potential
child
– Will the child have adequate support
and a stable home?
– If there are multiple fetuses, will the
children receive adequate
care/attention?
• “[PGD has] the laudable goal of
stopping deadly genetic diseases
such as Tay-Sachs and
Huntington’s. This research has
growing support because it can
save children from enormous
suffering and early death.”
(Wagner 2003)
Some ethicists would be in favor of IVF and PGD as long as
the decision is loving and promotes positive relationships.

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Definition of Moral Community
for Rights Based Ethics
Before one can decide to whom rights apply, one must determine
the moral community.
“As individuality is a sine qua non for personhood, it seems safe to consider 14
days of normal embryonic development to be the minimum requirement before
a human being can emerge. Other criteria might place the earliest time point at
a later stage, for example, 28 days, when the neural tube closes and the
development of the central nervous system necessary for rationality begins. Or,
with Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas, one might consider 40-90 days of
development to be necessary to allow a human soul to be present; or as the
Roman Catholic Church taught for centuries, one might require body-form and
movement to be present before full human status was recognized.” (J.E.S.Hansen)
Therefore, embryos lack rights as individuals because they
are not part of the moral community.
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Rights Based Ethics
Embryos are mass-produced, screened, discarded and used in
experiments: are they products or people with rights?
According to Hansen (see previous slide), the treatment of embryos is not an issue.
Based on John Locke’s principles, all people have the right (in America) to “life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
•What becomes of the idea that everyone is created equal if you start designing
children?
•Loss of autonomy because of a necessity to be competitive in society
•Inherently discriminatory; makes assumptions about quality of life
"Most people with disabilities rate their quality of life as much higher than
other people think. People make the decision [to reject embryos] based on a
prejudice that having a disability means having a low quality of life.“
(Zitner 2002)
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Utilitarianism
The greatest good for the greatest number suggests that…
• The alleviation of suffering for
many is important.
– IVF helps many infertile couples
achieve a life-long dream of
having a child.
– PGD helps those same couples
reach their goal of a disease free
child.
• A disease free society is
preferable for all members.
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14. What does religion have to say
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about Embryo technology?
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• The Christian view:
• Life is sacred
• Only God should
create life and take
it away.
• God knows you even
when you are in the
womb...

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• You created every
part of me; you put
me together in my
mother’s womb...
When my bones
were being formed...
when I was growing
there in secret, you
knew that I was
there.
• Psalm 139: 13-16
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Do all Christians have the same
opinion about Embryo technology?
• Roman Catholic Church: thinks
embryo technology is wrong. This is
because you are a person from the
moment of conception.
• Church of Scotland:does think that
life is sacred but agrees with using
embryos until the 14th day of
development.
• Both churches disagree with the idea
of designer babies
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….Christian View
• The Church of Scotland teaches that
life must be protected from the
moment of conception. Genetic
engineering for cosmetic purposes is
rejected because it is ’playing God’ to
decide which people are to be valued
and which are not. Medical research
up to 14 days is accepted.
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The Muslim View
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• Life is a gift from Allah.
• He breathes life into the
embryo, this when you
become a person.
• Some Muslims think this
happens on the 42nd day of
development. Others say
it is on the 120th day.

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Muslim View
• Life is sacred and a gift from Allah –
Surah 17:33, 40:70
• How we treat other living things
throughout life will form our
judgement by Allah
• There is disagreement about when
Allah breathes life into the foetus so
some accept research up to a certain
stage.

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• Some Muslims agree with embryo
research.
• Some say that Allah has given humans
intelligence. We should use this to make
life better: if you can make someone’s life
better by using embryo research then you
should.
• Some argue therefore, that using pre-embryo's
or embryos for research is
acceptable if the possible benefits are
great enough.
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Embryo research and UK law
• Licenses for embryo research must
be provided by the HFEA (Human
Fertilization and Embryology
Authority)
• Research is allowed up to 14 days of
development
• Frozen embryos can only be stored
for up to 5 years.
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23. Why are human embryo’s used
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for research?
• Gives more accurate picture of how the
illness/treatment might affect a
person.
• The research could help to eliminate
diseases such as Parkinson’s and
Alzheimer’s.
• The embryo is not a human being , just
a collection of cells, so it is acceptable
to extract genetic material form it and
use it to benefit others.
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24. Do human embryo’s have
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rights?
• No: it is only a cluster of cells, not
a person. Only a person has rights.
It has no awareness or feelings.
• Yes: It is a potential human being
and deserves to be respected. Life
begins at conception.
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Other Views on Embryo research:
• British Humanist Association
• Spare embryos produced through fertility
treatment are routinely disposed of, so it
is better that they are used to benefit
other people.
• Embryo is fertilized egg with potential to
be a person but it has no self-awareness,
no ability to feel pain or emotion.
Therefore it cannot suffer.
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Peter Singer (Preference Utilitarian)
• We already allow this kind of treatment.
It has benefited many people.
• Individuals should be free to make their
own choices on this issue as it is a private
matter harming no-one else.
• Many children have been born as a result
of this technology. It hasn’t harmed any
of them or society so we should conclude
that it is acceptable.
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Mary Warnock (Philosopher)
• Immense benefits come from using human
embryos therefore it is right that they are
used.
• The key stage of embryo development is
the ‘primitive streak’ at 14 days.
• The ‘slippery slope’ argument is not valid as
there are specific laws to stop this
happening , eg the ’14 day rule’
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International Policies on PGD
•Banned PGD for ALL usages
•Used to select child’s
gender only when
there is medical need
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•Clinics set policies; no
federal or state restrictions

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What is your opinion?
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30. Questions: answer these fully in
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your jotters.
1. Name two ways in which Christians
and Muslims agree about embryo
research
1. When does the Catholic Church
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think that life begins?

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Describe UK law relating to the
use of human embryos in
research.
• Human cloning is not allowed.
• Therapeutic cloning is allowed.
• Licences must be provided by the
HFEA.
• Research allowed up to 14 days of
development.
• Frozen embryos can only be stored for
up to 5 years.
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32. Describe a secular viewpoint in
relation to genetic selection
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• Peter Singer (a Utilitarian)
• We already allow genetic selection by encouraging
prenatal diagnosis of conditions such as Downs
Syndrome as this often leads to selective abortion.
• If humans have already developed the ability to
prevent certain genetic disorders then we should use
this technology to benefit people.
• Individuals should be free to make their own choices
on this issue as it is a private matter harming no one
else.
• However, Singer also points out that human genetic
engineering may lead to a loss of diversity among
human beings. This may reduce humanity's capacity
to adapt to changing circumstances.
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• This may also lead to an increasing gap
between rich and poor in society as the
children of the rich, who can afford to
genetically enhance their offspring, gain
more advantages over the children of the
poor.
• Singer suggests the State should control
human genetic engineering so that everyone
can share in the benefits.
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What arguments might
scientists use to support using
human embryos in research?
• A human embryo gives a more accurate
picture of how the illness/treatment may
affect a person.
• The embryo is not a human being but only a
collection of cells.
• It has no self-awareness, thoughts,
internal organs etc. Therefore, material
can be extracted to benefit others.
• The research could help to eliminate
diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s
and even cancer.
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How far does the religious viewpoint you have
studied agree with using embryos for stem
cell research
• Only God has the right to create life.
Whenever humans try to behave like God
they mess up.
• Humans are made in God’s likeness –
Genesis 1:27.
• ‘Do not commit murder’ – Exodus 20:13.
• Life is sacred and should only be ended by
God – Job 1:21.
• God cares for the developing foetus –
Psalm 139:13-16.
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• The Roman Catholic Church teaches that
life begins at conception. Therefore life
must be protected from the moment of
conception. However, gene therapy is
acceptable where it is of medical benefit.
• The Church of Scotland teaches that life
must be protected from the moment of
conception. Genetic engineering for
cosmetic purposes is rejected because it is
‘playing God’ to decide which people are to
be valued and which are not.
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• The Church of Scotland does accept
medical research up to 14 days.
• The Bible also teaches that Christians
should be compassionate towards others
leading some to suggest that this includes
medical research if it can provide cures for
diseases or help those with fertility
problems.
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• Islam
• Agree
• Life is sacred and a gift from Allah –
Surah 17:33, 40:70.
• How we treat other living things
throughout life will form part of our
judgement by Allah.
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• However
• There is disagreement about when
Allah breathes life into the foetus so
some accept research up to a certain
stage
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40. How might medical scientists
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define an embryo?
• A fertilised egg from 14 days to 8
weeks.
• The Human Fertilisation and
Embryology Act defines an embryo as
a live human embryo where
fertilisation is complete.
• or
• An egg in the process of fertilisation.
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