scholarly journals Cloning, mitochondrial replacement and genome editing: 25 years of ethical debate since Dolly

Reproduction ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Greenfield
Keyword(s):  
Genome Editing ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Popular Media ◽  
Reproductive Cloning ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Ethical Debate ◽  
Human Reproductive ◽  
Genetic Technologies ◽  
Mitochondrial Replacement Techniques

The birth of Dolly the sheep in 1996 elicited a tsunami of commentaries, both in the popular media and academic journals, including responses to the prospect of human reproductive cloning. Much of the anxiety expressed over this imagined consequence of Dolly’s genesis revealed fundamental concerns about our losing our commitments to certain ethical goods, such as human dignity, or even ‘what it means to be human’. Over the last 25 years, the focus of much of the ethical debate over human biotechnology has slowly shifted towards other genetic technologies that aim to influence inheritance, such as mitochondrial replacement techniques (MRT) and heritable genome editing. Genome editing, in particular, is a technology with multiple fields of application, actual and potential, in research and innovation. In this review, I suggest that many of the fundamental concerns about the possibility of human reproductive cloning that were precipitated by Dolly persist today in the arguments of those who oppose MRT and any use of heritable human genome editing (HHGE). Whilst I do not accept that an understanding of human nature and dignity alone can demonstrate the ethical unacceptability of such assisted reproductive technologies, there are themes of justice, which extend into our relationships with animals, that demand continued wide-ranging examination and public deliberation. Dolly has cast a long shadow over such discussions, but I suggest that the general existential angst over human uses of biotechnology that she came to symbolise is neither compulsory, nor a reliable guide for how to think about biotechnologies today.

Response to “May a Woman Clone Herself” by Jean Chambers (CQ Vol 10, No 2)

2002 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-86
Author(s):  
Timothy F. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Reproductive Cloning ◽  
Same Sex Couples ◽  
Human Reproductive ◽  
Somatic Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Do So

For many commentators in bioethics and the law, safety is the fulcrum for evaluating the ethics of human reproductive cloning. Carson Strong has argued that if cloning were effective and safe it should be available to married couples who have tried to have children through various assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) but been unable to do so. On his view, cloning should be available only as reproductive last resort. I challenged that limited use by trying to show that the arguments Strong adduces in favor of reproductive somatic nuclear transfer (SNT) for married couples extend to same-sex couples as well, who face a different kind of infertility. I also went on to argue that his justifications would in fact extend the legitimate use of SNT to any couples regardless of whether they had fertility difficulties or not.

scholarly journals May I have your uterus? The contribution of considering complexities preceding live uterus transplantation

2021 ◽  
pp. medhum-2020-011864
Author(s):  
Lisa Guntram
Keyword(s):  
Medical Humanities ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
In Vitro Fertilisation ◽  
Medical Innovation ◽  
Uterus Transplantation ◽  
Ethical Debate ◽  
Care And Support ◽  
Different Dimensions

Uterus transplantation combined with in vitro fertilisation (IVF) (henceforth called UTx-IVF) as a treatment for infertility caused by an absence or malfunction of the uterus is advancing. About 50 transplantations have been conducted worldwide and at least 14 children have been born—9 of them by women taking part in a Swedish research project on UTx-IVF. The Swedish research protocol initially stated that the potential recipient must ‘have her own donor’ who is preferably related to the recipient. But what does it mean to ask someone for a uterus? What challenges does this question instigate? And what norms may it enact? In this article, I explore how 10 women—who have considered, and sometimes pursued, UTx-IVF—describe their experiences of searching for a donor. I aim to show how an analysis of such accounts can help us unpack some of the specific relational and gendered dimensions of UTx-IVF and by doing so enrich discussions of risks, benefits, care and support in UTx-IVF. Drawing on research in social sciences and medical humanities that has demonstrated how assisted reproductive technologies and organ donation can provoke social and familial conundrums, with respect to such topics as embodiment and identity, I present three patterns that describe different dimensions of the interviewees’ quest for a uterus donor. I discuss the negotiations that took place, how expectations unfolded and how entanglements were managed as the interviewees considered asking someone for a donation. Such an examination, I suggest, contributes to make care and support more attuned to the experiences and entanglements that UTx-IVF entails for those pursuing it. This will become increasingly important if (or when) UTx-IVF becomes part of general healthcare. To conclude, I problematise responsibilities and relational challenges in medical innovation, and in this way provide insights into how the ethical debate over UTx-IVF can broaden its scope.

scholarly journals Legal Responsibility for Abuses and Crimes in the Field of Artificial Human Reproduction

Lex Russica ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 48-52
Author(s):  
N. V. Kruchinina
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Human Reproduction ◽  
Legal Responsibility ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Artificial Reproduction ◽  
Forensic Research ◽  
Human Reproductive ◽  
Common Understanding

The article analyzes different points of view concerning reproductive human rights. Every year the number of cases when assisted reproductive technologies are used is increasing in Russia. The author draws attention to the lack of a common understanding of reproductive human rights, their protection and regulation in different countries of the world, to different perceptions of legal responsibility for abuses in the field of artificial reproduction of human beings, and to the existence of different definitions of crime in the field of human reproduction.The article presents an overview of foreign legislation on criminal law protection of human reproductive functions. The study of criminal and civil cases and examination of scientific developments in this area compels the author to admit the existence of abuses and crimes in the field of artificial reproduction of human beings. The article attempts to determine the list of crimes against reproductive human rights and considers them as an object of forensic research.

Law in Ensuring the Safety of Genetic Technologies Against their Use for Criminal Purposes

Lex Russica ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 47-53
Author(s):  
N. V. Kruchinina
Keyword(s):  
Legal Status ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
Human Reproduction ◽  
Economic Progress ◽  
Genetic Technologies ◽  
Criminal Groups ◽  
Definition Of

Genetic technologies offer wide prospects for socio-economic progress. At the same time, their application in practice could put at stake the interests of society, human rights and freedoms. Therefore, the development of genetic technologies requires its analysis from the standpoint of jurisprudence, thoughtful legislative regulation and protection from uncontrolled spread and criminal use. The paper analyzes different points of view on the use of genetic technologies. The author substantiates the necessity of proper legal regulation and security of the process of development of genetic technologies. The paper contains the results of the scientific research. The paper elucidates the problems related to the use of genetic technologies in the process of artificial human reproduction: imperfection of the legal framework (In particular, lack of the definition of the legal status of human embryo, lack of justification for the legality of its use for research and therapeutic purposes), the threat of the use of genetic technologies for criminal purposes. The author concludes that the use of genetic technologies for criminal purposes is especially dangerous because organized criminal groups focus their attention on genetic technologies. This gives rise to a special criminal situation that requires new approaches for effective counteraction. To this end, the priority is given to identification of crimes committed with the use of genetic technologies and analysis of the emerging practice of investigating this category of crimes. Failure to comply with standards, deviation from regulations and procedures imposed on medical care may result in harm to health or death also when the assisted reproductive technologies are used. The author has made some proposals to solve these problems with due regard to domestic and foreign experience in the use of genetic technologies in the field of human artificial reproduction (in particular, it is proposed to establish effective international cooperation in this area).

scholarly journals High-Tech Linked Crimes

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 740-746
Author(s):  
Yevgeny Ishchenko ◽  
Nadezhda Kruchinina
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Rights ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Human Reproduction ◽  
Modern World ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Population Replacement ◽  
Assisted Reproduction Technologies ◽  
Human Reproductive ◽  
High Technologies

Modern research advanced open wide prospects for socio-economic and cultural progress, but they could also pose a threat for human rights and liberties. It is stated in the article that the transformation of the modern world under the influence of high technologies is leading to the emergence of new types of crimes; the authors show the necessity of developing a criminal law reaction to crimes connected with artificial intelligence, cybercrimes, crimes in the sphere of biotech, as well as the need to work out new approaches to fighting crimes linked to high technologies. The authors claim that the foundations for digital criminalistics have already been laid. They analyze the use of hi tech with criminal purposes in different spheres, including assisted reproductive technologies, and stress that the problems of population replacement, connected with human reproductive functions, are essential for the existence and development of any state and society. Meanwhile, there are considerable discrepancies in how different countries understand human reproductive rights, their protection and regulation. The criminal nature of different actions in the sphere of human reproduction is also understood differently. Modern medical technologies open up great possibilities in the sphere of assisted human reproduction, at the same time, this area is connected with legal risks. The authors attempt to compile a list of crimes against reproductive rights of humans and to view them as a unified object of criminalistic research. It is noted that the use of biotechnologies with criminal purposes could take the form of improper exercise and excess of authority, corruption, fraud and extortion. The article includes the results of the criminalistic analysis of legislation regarding assisted reproduction technologies. It has been revealed that the use of such technologies in Russia is growing year by year, while the legislation regulating legal relations in this sphere makes it possible to use its imperfections and to commit abuses and crimes connected with various falsifications. It is proven that the task of criminalistics is to develop effective technical, tactical and methodological recommendations with the goal of identifying and investigating criminally punishable falsifications. Specifically, it is recommended to introduce obligatory notarization of the surrogacy contract, and to change the procedure of presenting corresponding documentation to registry offices.

Procreative Liberty and Harm to Offspring in Assisted Reproduction

2004 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Child Rearing ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Procreative Liberty ◽  
Ethical Debate ◽  
The Status

Assisted reproductive technologies (“ARTs”) have enabled many infertile couples to have children but have long been controversial. Opposition initially focused on the “unnaturalness” of laboratory conception and the doubts that healthy children would result. Once children were born, ethical debate shifted to the status and ownership of embryos and the novel forms of family that could result.The new century has brought forth both new and old ethical concerns. The growing capacity to screen the genomes of embryos has sparked fears of eugenic selection and alteration. In addition, concerns about safety have reasserted themselves. Several studies suggest that in vitro fertilization (“IVF”) may be associated with lower birth weights and major malformations. Ethical attention has also focused on whether all persons seeking ARTs should be granted access to them, regardless of their child-rearing ability, age, disability, health status, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Therapeutic insemination by donor I: A review of its efficacy

1995 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
John K Critser ◽  
Jeanne V Linden
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Semen Collection ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Human Reproductive ◽  
Cattle And Sheep

Of all the assisted reproductive technologies in current use, artificial insemination has by far the longest history. While the earliest verifiable reports using this technique date to the eighteenth century for nonhuman artificial insemination and to the nineteenth century for human artificial insemination, systematic use of this approach to assist reproduction did not occur until the early part of this century. During the early 1900s, in Russia, Ivanov developed methods for semen collection from and insemination of horses. These techniques were later modified to apply to other agriculturally important species so that by the 1930s, millions of horses, cattle and sheep were being bred using artificial insemination. The adaptation of widespread use of artificial insemination (primarily in cattle) in agriculture extended to Britain in the early 1940s and to the USA in the 1950s. Corresponding implementation of artificial insemination in human reproductive medicine closely followed these innovations in the animal husbandry field.

scholarly journals Women’s viewpoints on egg freezing in Austria: an online Q-methodology study

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Kostenzer ◽  
Antoinette de Bont ◽  
Job van Exel
Keyword(s):  
Q Methodology ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Value Conflicts ◽  
Lay Persons ◽  
Ethical Debate ◽  
Change Policy ◽  
Level Of Agreement ◽  
Egg Freezing

Abstract Background Egg freezing has emerged as a technology of assisted reproductive medicine that allows women to plan for the anticipated loss of fertility and hence to preserve the option to conceive with their own eggs. The technology is surrounded by value-conflicts and is subject to ongoing discussions. This study aims at contributing to the empirical-ethical debate by exploring women’s viewpoints on egg freezing in Austria, where egg freezing for social reasons is currently not allowed. Methods Q-methodology was used to identify prevailing viewpoints on egg freezing. 46 female participants ranked a set of 40 statements onto a 9-column forced choice ranking grid according to the level of agreement. Participants were asked to explain their ranking in a follow-up survey. By-person factor analysis was used to identify distinct viewpoints which were interpreted using both the quantitative and the qualitative data. Results Three distinct viewpoints were identified: (1) “women should decide for themselves”, (2) “we should accept nature but change policy”, and (3) “we need an informed societal debate”. These viewpoints provide insights into how biomedical innovations such as egg freezing are perceived by women in Austria and illustrate the normative tensions regarding such innovations. Conclusions Acknowledging the different prioritizations of values regarding assisted reproductive technologies is important to better understand the underlying normative tensions in a country where egg freezing for social reasons is currently not allowed. The study adds new empirical insights to the ongoing debate by outlining and discussing viewpoints of those directly affected: women. Following up on the lay persons perspective is particularly important in the context of future biomedical innovations that may challenge established norms and create new tensions. It therefore also adds to the societal debate and supports evidence-informed policy making in that regard.

scholarly journals Аdvocacy in protecting reproductive rights

2021 ◽  
pp. 62-66
Author(s):  
N. V. Kruchinina
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Rights ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
Surrogate Mothers ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Human Reproductive ◽  
Genetic Parents ◽  
Further Development

As the number of infertile couples is growing in Russia, the use of assisted reproductive technologies (In vitro fertilization, surrogacy, etc.) have been widely developed. Thus, there is the urgent need of proper legal regulation and measures to protect the rights of both surrogate mothers and genetic parents from diff erent abuses, including those of criminal nature. The legislation governing relations in this area needs further development. There are a review of foreign laws concerned, and the analysis of different positions on human reproductive rights in this article. An attempt has been made to determine the list of crimes against human reproductive rights. The necessity of advocacy in the sphere of assisted reproductive technologies is reasoned as a measure of protection of human reproductive rights.

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