Selecting the Perfect Baby

Ethics of Embryo Design

Selecting the Perfect Baby

With all the recent advances in science and technology, there are new options for couples looking to get pregnant. This includes not only first time couples who have had trouble getting pregnant, but also couple looking to design their perfect baby using science to pick out the most desired genetic markers. This is the choice given to the Shannons, who are looking to have certain genetic markers in their next child to avoid a diagnosis of fanconi anemia that their older child has, as well as to provide a potential future match for a bone marrow donor for their current daughter, Sally.

Thus, the Shannons are looking into the pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) procedure. According to the research, this procedure is "a technique that enables people with a specific inherited condition in their family to avoid passing it on to their children. It involves checking the genes of embryos created through IVF for a genetic condition" (Human Fertilization & Embryo Authority, 2014). There is a difference between simply checking a healthy embryo compared to why the Shannons are selecting an embryo. The Shannons could benefit dramatically from the procedure for several reasons. First, they could avoid having another child with the complicated condition of fanconi anemia, thus giving their future child a better chance at a higher quality of life, compared to their other daughter Sally, who was conceived without genetic altering. For the Shannons' case, this procedure aims to help stop the suffering of two children as well, because the Shannons can help to design an embryo that may help provide bone marrow transplants later on in life for sister Sally when they are needed, since siblings provide transplants with the highest success rates. Still, there are potential dangers involved with the procedure as well. First, not all tests are 100% accurate. Thus, there is always the risk of the child still having the genetic disorder they are trying to prevent as well as not being a perfect match for Sally's transplants. Additionally, the cells of the embryo could be damaged during the testing process, which could result in even more dangerous complications for the unborn child. For and against the Shannon's procedure design

In the Shannons' case, there are strong ethical considerations for choosing such a controversial procedure. They are looking to improve the quality of life of both of their children. However, PGD can also be used for non-health related purposes, which change the situation dramatically and are extremely unethical. For example, the procedure can be used to choose a gender for the child. Thus, if a couple wants a certain gender, they could pick and choose from the fertilized embryos based on gender. However, this is largely considered unethical by the medical community, because PGD should only really be used in drastic situations, like that of the Shannons (American Pregnancy Association, 2013). If everyone were able to map genetic structure, there would definitely be discrimination against certain genetic traits, which may even result in a weakening of society's genetic pool. It is wrong to choose one life over another because of desired genetic traits.