USE OF HUMAN EMBRYOS

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USE OF HUMAN EMBRYOS Course Requirements

Knowledge and Understanding: •definition of the beginning of life, •uses of embryos (stem cell research, genetic selection, IVF), •UK Law, •HFEA guidelines.

Analysis: Religious and secular viewpoints on the issues

Evaluation: Comment on• the strengths and weaknesses of viewpoints on the different uses of embryos • religious and moral implications for the individual and society.

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When does life begin? p1

This question raises many moral issues.

Most societies agree we shouldn’t harm or take a life without ‘good reason’.

•What is good reason?•Who should make that decision?•When can something be classed as human and therefore deserving full human rights?

Some views on when life begins:•Existence of ovum and sperm•Moment of conception•Ensoulment•Implantation•Primal or primitive streak•Quickening•Consciousness•Viability•Birth

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A pre-embryo is a fertilised ovum (egg) until the 14th day of development (when specialisation or differentiation occurs)

An embryo is a fertilised egg from 14 days until the 8th week of development.

It is known as a foetus from the 8th week until birth.

Day 54

At 8 weeks the embryo is about the size of a grape.5

Current Rights of the Embryo in the UK

•None up to 14 days of development

•Limited rights after 14 days

•Can be aborted up to the 24th week

•After the 24th week it has full human rights as by then it is considered a viable life.

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Views on when life begins p3

Christianity•Number of different views•All agree life is a gift from God•Roman Catholic Church and many others believe life begins at conception•Some believe that a developing embryo is not fully human so are not against embryo use for some research purposes

Hinduism•Number of different views•Some believe it is 7th month (according to oldest texts)•Others believe it is the 7th week (according to Rig Veda; updated in 1st century CE)•Modern belief is it is at the moment of conception when the atman enters the embryo.

Secularism•Secularists don’t believe life is sacred but do belief it is precious.•They may agree there is the potential for life at conception and the embryo deserves protection, but not full human rights.

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The use of human embryos

What is a stem cell?

Skin cell magnified X 400

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The use of human embryos p5

Sources of embryos•Abortions•‘Leftovers’ from IVF (in vitro fertilisation)•Donated eggs fertilised by donated sperm

There is a benefit of using 5 day old pre-embryos (blastocysts), as at this stage the cells are unspecialised or undifferentiated.

Supporters argue at this stage the pre-embryo is just a collection of cells which cannot be considered ‘human’.

Opponents argue that as long as there is potential then we should be concerned at how the embryo is treated.

There are 3 main areas where embryos are likely to be used for research purposes:

•Stem cell research

•IVF

•Genetic selection9

Stem cell research p5

Uses•Research the nature of cell division and function•The formation of body tissue to treat damaged tissue•Test new drugs without risk to patients•Currently treats around 75 diseases such as hereditary diseases like cystic fibrosis, as well as leukaemia, tissue damage and many more.

•Stem cells can be derived from adult cells but usually only to repair tissues from the source e.g. lung cells

Alternative to EMBRYO use

Janice's Story – potential benefits of research

Lorna's Story – treatment of cystic fibrosis

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Human embryonic stem cells (HESCs) p5

•These are cells that are undifferentiated

•Sourced at around the 5th day of development

•Normally sourced from ‘spare’ embryos following IVF

•Must be destroyed after 14th day of development

•HESCs are the best type due to them being pluripotent (can become any type of cell)

•Scientists believe that while there are other sources of stem cells, embryonic stem cells are the most useful

•Opponents question the ethics of any process that intentionally destroys a life and the potential dangers associated with it.

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Benefits of Stem Cell research p6

•Could be just another medical technique that could improve the quality of life

•People have always interfered with nature. We should use our knowledge to combat nature’s ‘errors’

•Cures may be found for many things, maybe even by accident

•As the cells are destroyed before the 14th day when specialisation occurs, the embryo cannot suffer and are no more morally important than any other cell.

•The benefits outweigh the complexity and cost.

Dangers

•It is just another form of killing and is morally wrong

•Research is still at an early stage and there could be unknown dangers for individuals and society

•Illness and disease could be natures way of controlling the population

•The cost is not justified 12

Christian views on stem cell research p7

•Christian Orthodox Church: Wrong in all cases. Life is sacred and ‘a gift from God’. Bible’s Book of Exodus, Moses received the Commandments, one of which was ‘Do not kill’. The Book of Job teaches that life is sacred

•Church of Scotland: It is acceptable in some cases. The embryo has the potential for life but isn’t fully human so research is acceptable up to 14 days if it is for the greater good and for medical treatments.

•Some Christians believe that it is acceptable in all cases. God gave humans a brain and we should use it if it helps others.

Hindu views p8

•Various viewpoints because of differing views on when life begins

•Atman enters embryo at conception; destroying it could be harming Brahman, upsetting cycle of samsara and causing poor karma

•Ahimsa is against harm, so destroying an embryo is wrong

•However, Hinduism teaches compassion meaning we should help others and so there is general approval of adult stem cell use 13

Secular views on stem cell research p9

•Variety of views

•As it benefits the majority it is acceptable (Utilitarian)

•Not concerned about the sanctity of life but rather the quality

•Secularists see the benefits as outweighing the dangers

•Does not see the embryo as a person with full human rights

•However Secularists do agree with the need for regulation

•Kantian ethics could see helping others as a duty

•However it could be a duty to protect the embryo

•The embryo could be seen as a means to an end which goes against Kantianism

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IVF treatments

IVF(In Vitro Fertilisation) takes place in a laboratory when a person or a couple cannot conceive naturally.

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Practical criticisms of IVF p11

•Health of the woman: Use of drugs; surgical procedures; long and often unsuccessful process.

•Health of re-implanted embryo: risk of infection to the ovum

•Scarce medical resources: expensive process

Supporters

•the risk is relatively small and patients must give informed consent.

•No greater risk than any other treatment

•Benefits outweigh the cost

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Moral criticisms of IVF p12-13

Jamie's Story – moral implications; human cloning

•Interfering with nature or playing God: IVF is morally different to other medical interventions such as taking a headache pill.

•Slippery slope argument: what could be done e.g. designer babies

•Having a family is not a right.

•Third party involvement - three parents?

•Should single parents, gay couples etc. be allowed to have children?

Supporters

•We cannot end what is being done because of what might happen.

•There is no substitute for a genetically related ‘real’ family.

•No-one has the right to deny someone a family.

•There is no reason that a child from an ‘alternative’ family will be disadvantaged.

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The link between IVF and other uses of human embryos (Read page 13)

‘Spare’ embryos from IVF that are used for research which are then destroyed; critics may argue this is ending a potential life, with no possibility of consent.

Supporters might argue that the ‘spare’ embryos would be destroyed anyway and using them to help others means they have had some sort of ‘purpose’ during their brief ‘lives’.

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Religious & non-religious views on IVF p13

Christian views on IVF

•Oppose IVF completely: life is a gift from God: risks are too high; interferes with ‘traditional’ family unit; children are a gift from God and should only be the result of natural processes in a loving and stable heterosexual relationship. E.g. Roman Catholic Church

•Limited support: acceptable if it is to help childless couples; not supportive of IVF for single people, gay couples etc. E.g. Church of Scotland

•Supported in all cases: should be used if it created a loved child under properly regulated conditions

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Hindu views on IVF p15

•Oppose IVF completely: interferes with caste system; life begins at conception, ‘spare’ embryos are destroyed so it involves ‘killing’; some see sperm and egg donation as a form of adultery which is banned.  •Approve under certain conditions: householder stage of life involves producing a family, if this means using medical interventions then it is acceptable

•In practice, many Hindus go through the IVF process and have no concerns.

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Secular views on IVF p16

•Fully support IVF: it is a medical procedure like any other

•Utilitarian: if it maximises the happiness of the majority (Preference) or the majority of society approve, even if it is at the expense of minority (embryos). However if it leads to ‘designer babies’ then it might not be good for society (the majority)

•Kantian: it is our duty to help others if we can. However are we treating people or embryos as a means to an end?

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Genetic selection p17-18

The major concern with genetic selection is that it will open the door to picking and choosing ‘desirable’ qualities.

Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis and selection (PGD)

•Currently in use; cell from an embryo is screened for ‘defects’ and either discarded or re-implanted•No manipulation of DNA is allowed

Benefits•Prevents a child being born with inherited genetic illness•Cuts down on abortions later in pregnancy•Allows ‘saviour siblings’

Dangers•Embryos are destroyed – ‘playing God’•A judgement has to be made as to what illnesses can be treated•Could lead to ‘designer babies’ (eugenics)•Complicated and risky•What self worth would a ‘saviour sibling’ have•Could increase number of abortions if more ‘defects’ are detected

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Germline therapy p19

•Same principles as PGD except gametes (sex cells) are manipulated

•Currently prohibited

Benefits

•Can eradicate illnesses and disease

•Would prevent illnesses being passed to future generations

Dangers

•We would be manipulating future generation’s DNA without their permission

•There may be problems with genetically modified individuals reproducing

•Healthy DNA would come from third party – three parents?

•Could be the first step in creating ‘designer babies’

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Religious and non-religious views on genetic selection

Christian views p20

•Completely oppose: it is ‘playing God’

•Limited acceptance: if it helps a family with heritable illness E.g. Methodist Church – benefits and dangers must be carefully considered.

•Unlikely to support: if it is for ‘cosmetic’ purposes

Hindu views p20

•Completely oppose: illness is all part of karma which should not be interfered with

•Limited acceptance: if it is for medical reasons only

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Secular views on genetic selection p21

•Completely supports genetic selection if it for the greater good

•However care should be taken so as not to create separate society of ‘modified, superior’ human beings.

•Also may cause inequalities in society with only some being able to afford treatment

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HFEA guidelines and UK law p23

HFEA guidelines

•Research & IVF governed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.

•Allows for research on embryos up to the 14 day point (primitive or primal streak)

•After this embryos must be destroyed or frozen (five year limit)

•Research must be ‘necessary’ or ‘desirable’ under HFEA guidelines

UK law

•Ensures that all work with embryos is strictly regulated by the HFEA

•Prohibiting cross implantation of the species (human/animal hybrids)

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Rights of the embryo is the main moral issue p25

•The law says an embryo has limited rights from 14th day and full rights from 24th week of development

•However if as some believe life begins at conception, then they believe interfering with this life is wrong, especially if for anything other than therapeutic (healing) reasons.

•Adults aren’t used without their consent, why should we use embryos just because they can’t speak for themselves.

•Sanctity of life argument – embryos is a being in the image of God – it is precious and sacred.

•Secularists might also argue that embryos should not be treated differently from any other form of ‘life’

•However some argue that it is not a ‘person’ and should be used if it helps others – it is worth the sacrifice of a ‘potential’ life.

Meddling with nature p25

Slippery slope – embryo research might have justifiable reasons at the moment but it is not worth the risk of it getting out of hand e.g. designer babies, divided society

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Christian views on moral issues or implications p27

Christians have mixed views:•When does ‘life’ begin? Conception , 14th day?•Should humans take God’s role of creation of life?

Hindu views on moral issues or implications p28

•Again mixed views but mainly against as atman enters embryo at conception.•Consider adult stem cell research more appropriate

Secular views on moral issues or implications p28

•What are the rights of an embryo?•Does research do more good than harm?