Question

• When do you think personhood begins? Fertilization? Conception? Some other time?
• What are the criteria that determines personhood?
• Can personhood ever be created by man such as highly sophisticated computers (remember the computer “Hal” from 2001: A Space Odyssey)?
• What protections of personhood do you think are required of society?

Currently, the only options open to couples faced with the conundrum of unused embryos are:

• taking them home and keeping them or burying them;
• having them implanted during a non-fertile cycle for natural disposal;
• having them destroyed as medical waste;
• donating them to research; or
• offering them up for a directed adoption (you know the couple who will adopt) or given them to the fertility clinic as an anonymous donation (which may incur fees until the embryo is selected).

1. Considering the choices listed, can you identify all of the potential stakeholders and the ethical issues associated with each choice?
2. Many fertility centers warn parents that embryos will be destroyed for non-payment of storage fees. Is this the most ethical option? If yes, please explain. If no, please suggest an alternative response and support it ethically.
3. You have read several articles and viewed a video which powerfully express the conflicting emotions which occur with regard to how parents view extra embryos after they have undergone the process of assisted reproduction. How could the process of IVF be improved to recognize this dynamic and improve the informed consent process?

Answer 1

1. Personhood begins with Conception . 5 potential points of personhood :-

1. Conception

2.Quickening

3. consciousness

4.Viability

5. Birth

2. Creiteria that determines personhood are :-

- counsicouness

- self motivated activity

- reasoning

- capacity to communicate

- self concepts and self awareness

3. No, i don't think so that personhood can be made by highly sophisticated computers because it's a natural process not any digital functionings .

4. Protection of personhood that are required in the society are :-

- Human rights

- Legal rights

- Constitutional rights