Is embryo research and preimplantation genetic diagnosis ethical?

• Published in: Forensic science international Vol. 113; no. 1; pp. 461 - 475
• Main Author: Beyleveld, Deryck
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ireland Ltd 11.09.2000; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Attitude to Health; Bioethics; Biological and medical sciences; Democracy; Diagnosis; Embryo research; Embryo, Mammalian; Embryos; Ethics; Ethics, Medical; Europe; Genetic diagnosis; Genetic screening; Human rights; Humans; Legislation; Medical diagnosis; Medical ethics; Medical sciences; Morality; Philosophy, Medical; Politics; Preimplantation; Preimplantation Diagnosis - adverse effects; Preimplantation Diagnosis - standards; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Research - legislation & jurisprudence; Research - standards; Social Values; Stem cells; Teaching. Deontology. Ethics. Legislation; United Kingdom; United Kingdom; Europe; United Kingdom > UK; Portugal; Spain; Greece; Sweden; Netherlands; Austria; Belgium; Ireland; Luxembourg; Finland; Denmark; Italy; Germany; Ethics; Preimplantation; Embryo research; Genetic diagnosis; Human; Prenatal; Embryo; Legislation; Blastocyst; Assisted procreation; Genetics; Diagnosis; Moral science; Applied research; Legal Approach; Genetics and Reproduction; Biomedical and Behavioral Research
• ISSN: 0379-0738; 1872-6283
• DOI: 10.1016/S0379-0738(00)00284-X

The legal position in the UK on embryo research and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is outlined and contrasted with the position in other EU countries. The “gradualist” position of the UK on the moral status of the embryo is defended on the basis of an argument that precaution must be applied in proportion to the degree to which the embryo has developd to display components of agency, on the assumption that mortality is categorically binding and requires agents to be granted rights and that it cannot be known with certainty that the embryo is not an agent. The extent to which this argument, when combined with vicarious protections that the embryo should receive in order to protect the rights of other agents, limits embryo reearch and PGD, is discussed. It is concluded that the complexities that attend deliberation about the moral problems attending embryo research and PGD are such that the proper response to these problems is via the procedures of political democracy to achieve accountable answers rather than “correct” answers. This allows for a variety of judgements.