Advance warnings

• Dr Robert Edwards, the pioneer, called for regulation before success

• Watson (DNA) warned about cloning and surrogacy in 1971

Autonomy

• Immanuel Kant 1724-1804

• Man must not be treated as a means to an end but as an end in himself

John Stuart Mill

• Each is the proper guardian of his own health

• Third parties may be harmed

• Multiple births, allocation of resources, safety

Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority UK

• Established by 1990 Act

• Licences and monitors clinics and laboratories, IVF and embryo research

• 21 members appointed after advertisement

The Ethical Debate

• Catholic Church believes that life starts at conception

• Cardinal Trujillo announced excommunication for stem cell research

The Different Views

• Christopher Reeve supported research

• Jewish position that healing is an obligation

• Many embryos are left to perish after IVF

Frozen Embryos

• Law provides for 5-year storage

• 1996 – thousands had to be destroyed

• Donors could not be found

• May be kept 10 years with consent after law changed

Ethics

• Human dignity, worth and autonomy

• The welfare of the potential child

• Safety

• Respect for the status of the embryo

• Saving life through new technology

Animal-human embryos

Cloning Dolly

Supporters of Research I

• Nancy Reagan and Michael J. Fox spoke up for it

Supporters of Research II

• John Kerry (with Mrs. Reeve) debated with President Bush

• Presidents Ford, Carter and Clinton

The Hashmi Family

• Zain suffered from beta thalassaemia and needed blood from a compatible sibling

• Need an embryo free of the disease

• Need an embryo that is also compatible

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis