Case
A married couple wishes to have a child; however, the 32 year old mother knows that she is a carrier for Huntington’s disease (HD). HD is a genetic disorder that begins showing signs at anywhere from 35-45 years of age. Its symptoms begin with slow loss of muscle control and end in loss of speech, large muscle spasms, disorientation and emotional outbursts. After 15-20 years of symptoms HD ends in death. HD is a dominant disorder which means that her child will have a 50% chance of contracting the disorder. Feeling that risking their baby’s health would be irresponsible, the couple decides to use in vitro fertilization to fertilize several of the wife’s eggs. Several eggs are harvested, and using special technology, only eggs that do not have the defective gene are kept to be fertilized. The physician then fertilizes a single egg, and transfers the embryo to the mother. Approximately 9 months later, the couple gives birth to a boy who does not carry the gene for the disorder.
- Is this a case of eugenics? “Eugenics” is defined as the hereditary improvement of the human race controlled by selective breeding.
- Would it be acceptable for the parents to select the child’s sex as well, or should they only select an embryo that does not have HD? How would this be different?
- Is it ethical for this couple to have a baby when the mother could begin showings signs of HD when the baby is just a few years old?
- Assuming that this technology possible, would it be ethical for this couple to have a child without genetically ensuring that it would not have the disease?
- What if we did not have this technology, would it be ethical for a known carrier to have a child? If not, how far should this carry?
- Weighing everything we have discussed, do you believe the couple acted ethically?
