Human Cloning: Ethical Considerations - Essay Example

Ethical Considerations Introduction At first glance, nothing could perhaps be more touching than the following scenario: An orphaned child finally having a family to call his own upon being taken in by a childless couple whose prayers have finally been answered with the success of the adoption process that they have gone through. Finally, an orphan now has a home; a couple has someone to call their own; a family is complete. Unfortunately, real life somehow manages to taint the purest of intentions with the evil marks of a personal agenda. Such a cold fact is wisely illustrated in Debora Spar’s “Trading Places: The Practice and Politics of Adoption.” In order to understand Spar’s analysis of the ethical considerations in the business of adoption, it may be wise to likewise draw on the thoughts and analysis made by the Dalai Lama on the ethical issues behind the issue of genetic modification and human cloning in a chapter entitled “Ethics and the New Genetics” in his book “The Universe in a Single Atom.” Both issues seem all too innocent and greatly beneficial on the surface, but a closer look into these two controversial topics lead {correct word: leads} to a darker and more dangerous reality than what one may initially perceive. As the Dalai Lama suggests, “we need to examine the [issues] from the perspective of a global ethics that is grounded in the recognition of fundamental human values that transcend religion and science.” (#6) Discussion Spar contends that “adoption is indeed a market, particularly in its international dimension” (p. 2) early on. It is a market with continuous demand by would-be parents and an ever-increasing supply of “waiting children and a panoply of intermediaries — adoption agencies, social workers, lawyers.” (p.2) She further splits the two opposing views on adoption, the first of which considers adoption “as a purely social interaction” and the other one seeing it as “a market of the worst possible sort.” (p. 2) The first view considers the lovely picture painted earlier, highlighting adoption as a means to complete a family while the second view treats children as nothing more than a commodity, with a tag price and a corresponding market value. The issue is, in the Dalai Lama’s words, “the relationship between our knowledge and power on one hand and our responsibility on the other.” (# 2) Although the Dalai Lama is referring to the issue of cloning, the comparison is similar; that is, as humans we do have the knowledge and power to be able to adopt children, but there is an undeniable call of responsibly using this power. He also poses a question that may be a great consideration in the issue of adoption as well, “how do we handle [knowledge and power] in a way that is most compassionate?” (#2) Indeed, what are possible repurcussions {correct: repercussions} of adoption, other than providing happiness both to a childless couple and an orphaned child who can respond to one another’s needs? Spar claims that in making adoption nothing short of a business, it allows society to treat children as trade, “raises the stakes for poor, pregnant women” (p. 5) by being “tempted or tricked into choosing adoption to sell their babies for profit,” (p. 5) and ultimately “compromise {correct: compromises} the human rights of the children involved by thrusting them into a cultural context different from their own.” (p. 5) This evil side of adoption may be likened to the revolting idea of “deliberately breeding semi-humans for spare parts,” (#3) which is one of the foreseen purposes of human cloning. When mothers begin to “manufacture” babies for profit, such an act would be like producing and providing a “spare part” for a childless couple. And when children are treated as a commodity, their rights end. Adoption fills an existing need, and that is why the market for it is constantly fueled by “consumers” in the form of people wanting to be parents and “children” who are available for adoption. In fact, consumers are no longer just the typical childless husband and wife. Today, there is even greater clamor for adoption as same sex couples, unmarried individuals, and “philanthropic” personalities likewise express the need for adopting a child or more. Similarly, suppliers are no longer just orphanages who house orphaned children, looking for families. Unwanted pregnancies that lead to children being born out of wedlock and children who {correct: whom) parents cannot afford to support are likewise becoming a source for a regular stream of children. Essentially, adoption is supposed to be a good act, serving a noble purpose. Even Spar agrees with such a contention as she states that “the history of adoption provides a surprisingly consistent picture of success,” (p. 35) especially for adoptive parents whose feeling of emptiness is finally resolved by the acquisition of an adopted child. However, she also mentions how such an act may be psychologically traumatic for adopted children and birth parents. This is another contention against adoption --- although the greatest stakeholder in this situation is essentially the child and the birth parents, oftentimes they are the ones with the least influence on the matter. As the Dalai Lama says of cloning, “We have to bear in mind the long-term impact of this kind of manipulation.” (# 4) Indeed, adoption is a form of manipulation, taking away a child from his or her own biological and, in the case of cross-border adoption, cultural roots, and implanting him or her in an entirely foreign situation. Conclusion So, what is indeed the right thing to choose when it comes to abortion? Childless couples will give you a long list of reasons in a heartbeat. As with the benefits that cloning can offer, patients who can benefit from such a procedure will likewise not have second thoughts regarding the process as long as it produces the desired results. Again, the Dalai Lama’s wisdom suffices to illuminate the issue at hand as he says that, “… the challenge we face is really a question of what choices we make in the face of the growing options that [life] provides us.” (#3) Even the purest of intentions can be tainted with the smudges of greed and a complex of superiority. Adoption, as with cloning, is a means to provide a piece of balance in the unjustness of the world --- people who want children and children in need of a family are given what they wish for. The challenge is to keep this process pure and serving the purpose that it was built for. The challenge is to make the right choice in the face of our growing options. Read More