Running head: ANALYSIS OF ETHICAL DILEMMA

Analysis of Ethical Dilemma
Deanna Romain
Grand Canyon University
Ethical Decision Making in Health Care
NRS 437V
Jennifer Wood
August 28, 2011

Analysis of Ethical Dilemma
Is gender selection of a fetus ethical? With new advances in reproductive technology, parents can not only find out if their embryo has genetic abnormalities, they can also find out the gender of their embryo. The ethical dilemma is whether or not one should be able to choose their child’s gender before implantation. Some compare this method of gender selection to human cloning. Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is the testing of the chromosomes of the embryo to determine genetic abnormalities and gender prior to in-vitro fertilization (IVF). In the United States, gender selection by PGD is considered a violation of ethical practices for non-medical purposes (Akchurin, n.d.)
CNN.com reported recently that a new blood test has been discovered which can determine the sex of a fetus as early as seven weeks gestation. This achievement was reported in the Journal of American Medical Association in August. This technology is already starting ethical debates fearing parents will use this technology for sex determination and abort healthy fetuses (Ravitsky, 2011). This new technology could also be beneficial in determining gender if their child is at risk for a sex-linked disease such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy or hemophilia.
In China and India, there is a cultural preference for males, and for years, parents have been having ultrasounds to determine sex and having abortion’s following to avoid having a female. These practices have altered the sex ratios in these countries drastically making there be thirty two million men and under twenty million women. Allowing a simple blood test to determine gender for non-medical purposes will harm rather than empower women (Ravitsky, 2011).
In the United States, any woman has the legal right to have an abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy without providing any reason at all. Are all reasons for abortion ethically sound? Is abortion because the fetus is not a preferred gender ethically justified? I guess it doesn’t really matter since abortion is a legal right of the woman. This is where morals and ethical up-bringing play a part in the woman’s choice. Religion also plays a large part in the woman’s choice to have an abortion.
The utilitarian principle is based on the idea that actions are judged on the consequences of an action not the intentions. This approach does not rely on self -interest, but the interest of humanity (Burkhardt, 2008). Using PGD for medical reasons is utilizing the utilitarian principle to ethical behavior, which produces the greatest good for the greatest number. This technology, if used for medical reasons, will result in the best consequences for humanity, which is fewer children born with serious illnesses (Akchurin, n.d.). Another ethical concern with PGD is the use for family balancing. Families simply want to balance out genders within the family unit. There is no proof that this would benefit the society or the family in any way and this could be identified as a violation of the dignity of the child (Akchurin, n.d.).
The problem is future parents may be utilizing PGD for non-medical reasons which can considered unethical. Using abortion for non-medical reasons, such as gender, continue to be a fear of physicians and bio-ethical professionals. PGD has many positive benefits from a medical point of view, but still brings up serious social and ethical concerns.
I believe it would be beneficial to have testing done if there was a genetic disorder in the birth parent’s history. It would benefit by avoiding birthing a child that may not survive or have a life time disability and poor quality of life, such as in Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy. To prevent this birth before implantation even occurred would be a blessing, in my point of view. My point of view in this matter is that of the utilitarian approach, for the greatest good for the greatest number. If this birth was to happen, it would burden the family and the society as a whole. I thought about what I would do if I was faced with this decision, I would not have genetic testing done for the sole reason of determining gender, nor would I have an abortion based on the fact I was not having a baby of the gender I wished. This is against my morals and ethical principles as a person. I believe God has a plan for me, and he knows what is best for me. I don’t have the right to end life for the reason of unwanted gender.
Alternatives to this dilemma would be genetic counseling prior to PGD or any other gender testing. Discuss the options available and if testing is to determine genetic disease, discuss the outcomes if their child was to be born, what this disease would mean to the baby and the family. If testing was to determine gender only, discuss the ethical ramifications of this decision. Possibly with adequate education on the subject, they will think about their choice. I also believe this discussion should involve both parents, this is a decision both parents need to make. If abortion is the decision, the mother may be over-whelmed with guilt and may become depressed after the procedure, she may need psychological counseling. My plan of action would be to educate and educate some more. I would offer as many resources as possible for this family and offer as much support as possible. If possible, I would utilize the ethics committee to assist in the decision making. In conclusion, I feel parents need to be educated and carefully evaluated prior to PGD. I believe it is the parents right to know if their unborn child is going to have a genetic abnormality. Knowing the outcome before implantation will prevent the need to make a decision for abortion later in pregnancy and spare many ethical dilemmas they may face. I personally do not believe gender selection is ethical and would not choose this option and I would try not to judge any one that made this decision for themselves.

References
Akchurin, W., Kartzke, R. (n.d.).The Ethics of Gender Selection. Retrieved on August 25, 2011 From http://www.ethicpublishing.com/ethical/3CH2.pdf
Burkhardt, M.A., Nathaniel, A.K. (2008). Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing (3rd ed.). Clifton Park, N.Y., Delmar Learning.
Ravitsky, V. (2011). Is Gender Selection of a Fetus Ethical? Retrieved on August 25, 2011 from http://www.cnn.com/2011/opinion/08/15/ravitsky.gender.selection/index.html