Designer Babies: Kantian Ethics Of Genetic Engineering
Genes are what code particular traits and characteristics and are the influence to health and disease. Ongoing advances are now making it available for parents to genetically modify implanted embryos aiding in the creation of ‘designer babies’. In my essay I am going to discuss the case of a British couple that will have Britain’s first designer baby. I will cover the ethical issues regarding the topic of genetic engineering and also theories of Kantian Ethics and Utilitarianism to justify if genetic engineering is morally right.
A British couple has bypassed strict laws in Britain for genetic screening by travelling to America and undergoing treatment which costs £30,000 in order to conceive their desired child, in the hope to save their …show more content…
Applying this British couples action universally would mean that it would be justified for every family having children to genetically modify their babies genes by using embryo screening technology. In this case it would be a good outcome as it allows security for both the parents and especially the 4-year-old son who could possibly have a relapse. However Kant would not agree to apply it universally as it would allow all couples to under go embryo screening where not only you can screen for genetic disease but also determine what gender, hair type, eye colour type and height levels your child would be, there would be families who would abuse this scientific technology to create the most genetically superior child. Another reason why Kant would not support the actions of this British family is because he believed that you should never treat someone as a means to an end. Kant thought it was a duty to treat people with respect because of their freedom. However in the case the designer child has given no consent in the matter in being the savior child for the older son, incase he is in need of a transplant. Instead of the parents promoting the idea of letting their newborn child have a life where the respect of its own rights are more important, it now has …show more content…
(2002). Classics of political and moral philosophy. New York: Oxford University Press
Catalano, M. (2012). The Prospect of Designer Babies: Is it Inevitable? Retrieved 8th April 2014, from http://pitjournal.unc.edu/article/prospect-designer-babies-it-inevitable
Christians, C.J., Fackler, M., McKee, K.B., Kresshel, P.J., & Woods, R.H., (2009). Media Ethics: Cases and Moral Reasoning (8th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon, Incorporated.
Mill, J. S. (2011). Utilitarianism. Luton: Andrews UK.
Lemonick, M. D. (1999). Designer babies. Time. January, 22, 22-24
Lopatto, E. (2014, February 25). Dad May Join Two Moms for Disease-Free Designer Babies. Retrieved 8th April 2014, from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-25/dad-may-join-two-moms-for-disease-free-designer-babies.html
Ly, S. (2013, September 25). Ethics of Designer Babies. Retrieved 8th April 2014, from http://embryo.asu.edu/pages/ethics-designer-babies
Parry, W. (2013, February 18). Designing Life: Should Babies Be Genetically Engineered? Retrieved 8th April 2014, from http://www.livescience.com/27206-genetic-engineering-babies-debate.html
Rachels, R., & Rachels, S. (2010). The Elements of Moral Philosophy (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Higher
A British couple has bypassed strict laws in Britain for genetic screening by travelling to America and undergoing treatment which costs £30,000 in order to conceive their desired child, in the hope to save their …show more content…
Applying this British couples action universally would mean that it would be justified for every family having children to genetically modify their babies genes by using embryo screening technology. In this case it would be a good outcome as it allows security for both the parents and especially the 4-year-old son who could possibly have a relapse. However Kant would not agree to apply it universally as it would allow all couples to under go embryo screening where not only you can screen for genetic disease but also determine what gender, hair type, eye colour type and height levels your child would be, there would be families who would abuse this scientific technology to create the most genetically superior child. Another reason why Kant would not support the actions of this British family is because he believed that you should never treat someone as a means to an end. Kant thought it was a duty to treat people with respect because of their freedom. However in the case the designer child has given no consent in the matter in being the savior child for the older son, incase he is in need of a transplant. Instead of the parents promoting the idea of letting their newborn child have a life where the respect of its own rights are more important, it now has …show more content…
(2002). Classics of political and moral philosophy. New York: Oxford University Press
Catalano, M. (2012). The Prospect of Designer Babies: Is it Inevitable? Retrieved 8th April 2014, from http://pitjournal.unc.edu/article/prospect-designer-babies-it-inevitable
Christians, C.J., Fackler, M., McKee, K.B., Kresshel, P.J., & Woods, R.H., (2009). Media Ethics: Cases and Moral Reasoning (8th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon, Incorporated.
Mill, J. S. (2011). Utilitarianism. Luton: Andrews UK.
Lemonick, M. D. (1999). Designer babies. Time. January, 22, 22-24
Lopatto, E. (2014, February 25). Dad May Join Two Moms for Disease-Free Designer Babies. Retrieved 8th April 2014, from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-25/dad-may-join-two-moms-for-disease-free-designer-babies.html
Ly, S. (2013, September 25). Ethics of Designer Babies. Retrieved 8th April 2014, from http://embryo.asu.edu/pages/ethics-designer-babies
Parry, W. (2013, February 18). Designing Life: Should Babies Be Genetically Engineered? Retrieved 8th April 2014, from http://www.livescience.com/27206-genetic-engineering-babies-debate.html
Rachels, R., & Rachels, S. (2010). The Elements of Moral Philosophy (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Higher