Reference no: EM132713510

PGD, Reproduction and Ethics

Case:

• John and Martha have been married for three years. They have always wanted to have children, and now they are ready to try to have their first child. Martha has a rare genetic condition that would pose a great risk of suffering and a shortened lifespan to any child of theirs. A genetic counselor has suggested that the couple could use Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) as a way to avoid passing this genetic condition on to a child. To use PGD, the couple would undergo IVF (in vitro fertilization) to reproduce like many parents, and doctors would select an embryo to implant that did not have the genetic condition they hoped to avoid.

• John and Martha are also both deaf, and they are active in communities that support deaf culture. They speak sign language and hold professional jobs they enjoy. They believe that they live uniquely rich lives because they are deaf, and they want to share their unique culture with a child. When they discuss PGD with the medical professionals at

• the clinic overseeing PGD procedures, they ask them, while they are selecting an embryo, to also select for an embryo that has the gene for deafness. The parent's first priority is to avoid the harmful disease, but if possible, they would like to select for deafness. Is it ethical in this case to select for deafness?

Discussion a. Describe two ethical issues from class that will help you analyze the ethics of this case (e.g. professional ethical duties, etc.). Explain how these issues apply to the case and what the issues reveal about what is right or wrong in this case, specifically regarding selecting for deafness.

Discussion b. Last, but not least, what do you think Adrienne Asch would say about the ethics of this case? Here, please address ethical issues that you did not discuss in part (a).

Discussion c. Lastly, do you think it is ethically acceptable to use PGD to make such a choice? Please explain.