RBHM>I have a prior question. That is the morality if IVF research & activity
RBHM>in a world with too many people.
RBHM>Indeed the only justification I can find for it is the scientific fallout
RBHM>as you are concerned about
I agree that this is another good moral question to consider. I do see
a problem with people going to such extreme measures when there is
already a world population problem. Still, one must place some value on
personal choices in this matter. Who is to say that a couple should
have no recourse to modern techniques to help them deal with their
infertility? This can be a very personal thing. There is something
about a married couple having their own children.
I can tell such couples that they should adopt a child from the
available surplus, but should I limit them to this choice only? As a
policy I think we should put less emphasis on IVF, but I don't think we
should make it unavailable.
RBHM>> 1. What are the ethics of cloning human embryos in general?
RBHM>> Should research of this type be allowed at all?
RBHM>This is a simple question surely? The status of embryos is the the same as
RBHM>ot cell cultures. If you think embryos are people you will be wrong but ar
RBHM>likely to come to different conclusions.
Later in this discussion you mention that many of the moral questions
posed are in the religious arena. I suppose that you would consider the
debate over whether human embryos are people or not would fall into this
area as well? Personally I think it goes beyond a purely religious
topic. Embryos are alive and in one sense could be considered people,
although much of that determination is probably sematics. Still, as a
society, we do need to settle the moral implications of working with
living, human material. Maybe it is okay, but I'm not sure what the
consensus would be in this area.
RBHM>> 4. If several embryos are produced by cloning should
RBHM>> people be allowed to save the extras for later
RBHM>> implantation? Should people be allowed to sell
RBHM>> extra embryos?
RBHM>See above. Why not?
Again, I suppose it depends on what values we place on human embryos.
If society considers them people we would have to treat them as such, if
not then we can treat them as simply cell cultures.
RBHM>I repeat, the assumption that IVF is morally justified in a world of too m
RBHM>people & scarce medical resources strikes me as the real problem.
RBHM>The other issues you raise seem to me to be religious rather than moral.
RBHM>BTW, I see these as antithetical.
I'm not sure I can agree here. Religious and moral issues can be
separate or, as is often the case, intertwined. I think that
conclusions on moral issues may differ depending on your reference point
(i.e. religious vs. atheist), but the issues are there nevertheless.
Also, in a society which includes both religious and non-religious
elements we cannot just sweep these issues under the rug.
Bryan Ness
Asst. Professor of Biology
Pacific Union College
Angwin, CA 94508
bness at bbs.puc.edu
* OLX 2.1 TD * hAS ANYONE SEEN MY cAPSLOCK KEY?
