Artificial gametes and the ethics of unwitting parenthood
(2014) In Journal of Medical Ethics 40(11).- Abstract
- In this paper, we explore the ethical and legal implications of a hypothetical use of artificial gametes (AGs): that of taking a person’s cells, converting them to artificial gametes and using them in reproduction – without that person’s knowledge or consent. We note the common reliance on genetic understandings of parenthood in the law, and suggest that injustices may arise if unwitting genetic parents are sued for child support. We draw parallels between the hypothetical use of AGs to facilitate unwitting parenthood, and real examples of unwitting parenthood following cases of sperm theft. We also look at the harm that might be caused by becoming a genetic parent, independently of financial obligations, and ask whether such harm should... (More)
- In this paper, we explore the ethical and legal implications of a hypothetical use of artificial gametes (AGs): that of taking a person’s cells, converting them to artificial gametes and using them in reproduction – without that person’s knowledge or consent. We note the common reliance on genetic understandings of parenthood in the law, and suggest that injustices may arise if unwitting genetic parents are sued for child support. We draw parallels between the hypothetical use of AGs to facilitate unwitting parenthood, and real examples of unwitting parenthood following cases of sperm theft. We also look at the harm that might be caused by becoming a genetic parent, independently of financial obligations, and ask whether such harm should be understood in terms of theft of property. These examples help to highlight some of the current and prospective difficulties for the regulation of genetic and legal parenthood, and show how existing regulatory assumptions are likely to be further challenged by the development of AGs. We conclude by suggesting that the reliance on genetic connections to generate parental responsibility (financial or otherwise) for offspring is flawed, and that alternative ways of establishing parental responsibility should be considered. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/2c0f0ff8-f622-465a-b7db-c084c1c4df7c
- author
- Smajdor, Anna and Cutas, Daniela LU
- publishing date
- 2014
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- artificial gametes, in vitro created gametes, reproductive ethics, genetic parenthood, parental responsibility, gamete theft
- in
- Journal of Medical Ethics
- volume
- 40
- issue
- 11
- publisher
- BMJ Publishing Group
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:84908612341
- ISSN
- 1473-4257
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- id
- 2c0f0ff8-f622-465a-b7db-c084c1c4df7c
- alternative location
- https://jme.bmj.com/content/40/11/748
- date added to LUP
- 2021-06-24 15:43:35
- date last changed
- 2022-02-09 07:23:22
@article{2c0f0ff8-f622-465a-b7db-c084c1c4df7c,
abstract = {{In this paper, we explore the ethical and legal implications of a hypothetical use of artificial gametes (AGs): that of taking a person’s cells, converting them to artificial gametes and using them in reproduction – without that person’s knowledge or consent. We note the common reliance on genetic understandings of parenthood in the law, and suggest that injustices may arise if unwitting genetic parents are sued for child support. We draw parallels between the hypothetical use of AGs to facilitate unwitting parenthood, and real examples of unwitting parenthood following cases of sperm theft. We also look at the harm that might be caused by becoming a genetic parent, independently of financial obligations, and ask whether such harm should be understood in terms of theft of property. These examples help to highlight some of the current and prospective difficulties for the regulation of genetic and legal parenthood, and show how existing regulatory assumptions are likely to be further challenged by the development of AGs. We conclude by suggesting that the reliance on genetic connections to generate parental responsibility (financial or otherwise) for offspring is flawed, and that alternative ways of establishing parental responsibility should be considered.}},
author = {{Smajdor, Anna and Cutas, Daniela}},
issn = {{1473-4257}},
keywords = {{artificial gametes; in vitro created gametes; reproductive ethics; genetic parenthood; parental responsibility; gamete theft}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{11}},
publisher = {{BMJ Publishing Group}},
series = {{Journal of Medical Ethics}},
title = {{Artificial gametes and the ethics of unwitting parenthood}},
url = {{https://jme.bmj.com/content/40/11/748}},
volume = {{40}},
year = {{2014}},
}