Reproductive BioMedicine Online
Volume 20, Issue 5 , Pages 667-674, May 2010

Saviour embryos? Preimplantation genetic diagnosis as a therapeutic technology

  • Robert Sparrow

      Affiliations

    • Centre for Human Bioethics, Faculty of Arts, Monash University, Vic. 3800, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author.
    • ,
  • David Cram

      Affiliations

    • Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Vic. 3800, Australia

Received 14 May 2009; received in revised form 16 June 2009; accepted 30 November 2009. published online 02 March 2010.

Declaration: The authors report no financial or commercial conflicts of interest.

Abstract 

The creation of ‘saviour siblings’ is one of the most controversial uses of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). This paper outlines and invites ethical discussion of an extension of this technology, namely, the creation of ‘saviour embryos’ to serve as a source of stem cells to be used in potentially life-saving therapy for an existing child. A number of analogies between this hypothetical use of PGD and existing uses of IVF are offered and, in addition, between saviour embryos and proposed therapeutic applications of stem cell technology. The ethical significance of a number of disanalogies between these cases are explored and investigated. While the creation of saviour embryos would involve a significant shift in the rationale for IVF and PGD, it is suggested here that the urgent need of an existing individual should be prioritised over any obligations that might exist in relation to the creation or destruction of human embryos.

Keywords: embryos, ethics, IVF, PGD, saviour siblings, stem cells

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 Dr Sparrow is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Philosophy and Bioethics, and the Centre for Human Bioethics, at Monash University. His current research interests include the ethics of human enhancement, the ethics of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, and the ethics of xenotransplantation.

PII: S1472-6483(09)00292-2

doi:10.1016/j.rbmo.2009.12.015

Reproductive BioMedicine Online
Volume 20, Issue 5 , Pages 667-674, May 2010

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