Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis - Assignment Example

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis affiliation Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) At present, people can decide the sex of their children and avoid various genetic conditions and disorders (Kalb, 2004). Preimplantation genetic diagnosis helps to detect the embryo’s genetic defects made through vitro fertilization before pregnancy. The method is crucial in preventing the transmission of specific disorders from the parents to their children (Kuliev, 2012). However, there is a lot of debate on where to draw the line on this procedure.

BodyWhile many couples want perfect children, there has been a lot of debate surrounding PGD. A line needs to be drawn in some cases where procedures are considered unethical, especially, where couples create savior siblings aimed at saving a seriously sick sibling. Even though the engineered child does not get physically harmed and does not benefit, the implication of this procedure is morally unethical. It is not fair for couples to have a second child with the sole purpose of serving as a donor while disregarding his/her right to equality.

Having a donor child resembles slavery where the savior child is regarded the slave while the parents are the slave-owner. The parents own the child and use him/her as a commodity but, the child is a person who requires respect. There also has to be a limit to this because there are higher risks of long-term and psychological impact on the second child. The child’s identity is likely to be impaired because of being viewed as a tool that is solely designed to save another life. The child is also likely to lack self-respect and self-esteem as he/she is likely to get praised for being a means to achieve a particular end rather than for his/her individual value.

A line should also be drawn in cases where parents abuse PGD to meet their selfish needs of creating a perfect child. Avoiding genetic disorders to protect someone’s life is one thing but, it is another to transform a person artificially (Hayes, 2008). Some parents pick traits that they find to be beneficial and get rid of those that they find imperfect, so they satisfy their goals of not having socially and financially burdensome child. The reasoning is wrong because it is a direct discrimination against disabled children.

Ethically, this also violates the core value of humanity by treating a child as a means towards an inappropriate end. The child’s well-being is ignored while the parents’ economic and social ends are being pursued. Designing a child destructs their will and fails to treat them humanely (Cummings, 2009).ConclusionPGD has given couples opportunities to select favorable characteristics of their offspring. However, a line needs to be put in cases where savior siblings are used and where parents abuse the procedure.

These issues are serious and their implications can have irreversible and destructive consequences for the future generations (Harper, 2001). BibliographyCummings, M. R. (2009). Human Heredity: Principles & issues. Australia: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning.Harper, J. C., Delhanty, J. D. A., Handyside, A. H., & John Wiley & Sons. (2001).Preimplantation genetic diagnosis. New York: Wiley.Kalb, C. (2004, 01 26). Brave New Babies. Retrieved from Newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/brave-new-babies-125951Kuliev, A. (2012). Practical preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

London: Springer.Richard Hayes. (2008, 04 15). Retrieved from The Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/15/AR2008041501620.html