...The desire to reproduce is at the core of one’s biological being. The aspiration to pass on genetic makeup through offspring is perhaps the most innate evolutionary urge that is shared among all animals. The ability to pass on one’s DNA through offspring is one of the most basic, evolutionary and universal trait that is shared among all species and one that has stood the test of time. It is a natural form of ensuring that a part of one’s legacy will remain long after one’s passing. Regardless, of whether or not one is afflicted with the biological urge to conceive, one cannot underestimate the societal pressure that is placed on having children. Everyone, at one point or another, has to face the inevitable question by family or friends: “When are you planning to have kids?” or “Why don’t you have children?” Society views having children as a rite of passage and is a universally shared expectation of individuals. Therefore, naturally it is quiet distressing when one is unable to reproduce by natural means. In today’s contemporary society, man is so used to controlling its world and has devised many ways to overcome the constraints set forth by nature. For example proper family planning often involves the use of contraceptives in order to avoid an unplanned pregnancy, and when people are ready to have a child, they sometimes discover that achieving conception is not as easy as they imagined. According to World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Center of Health Statistics...
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...Nurses and other health care providers are constantly challenged to make ethical decisions about life and death issues in providing care to individuals, families and communities. To be relevant and ethical, these decisions need to be considered in the broader context of personal, societal, cultural and professional values and ethical principles (Fry & Johnstone, 2002). Tesfamicael GhebrehiwetThe nursing profession uses regulatory mechanisms, codes of ethics and other means to ensure ethical behavior. For example, The ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses asserts, “Inherent in nursing is respect for human rights, including the right to life, to dignity and to be treated with respect” (ICN, 2000, p. 2). To locate ethical issues within the context of nursing, it is vital to understand the International Council of Nurses (ICN) definition of nursing itself: “Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled, and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participating in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education are also key nursing roles” (ICN, 2005). This definition incorporates the three components of bioethics as outlined by Fry and Johnstone (2002), including norms of nursing practice, expansion of knowledge, and advocacy...
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...extraordinary this topic has been in debate for over thirty-years. During this time the legislation had been revised to in compass new advancement in the research along with protect the public interest. The question that is continually being evaluated is the use of stem cell ethical. In 1973, Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade rules that decisions about abortion are private, between a woman and her doctor. Some States may not forbid abortion in first two trimesters. This decision sparks a large, politically active anti-abortion movement that opposes research on embryos. Members of Congress become concerned about research exploitation of embryos and fetuses that will be aborted. (Wertz, 2002) In 1974,Congress applies its own temporary moratorium on federally funded clinical research on embryos and embryonic tissue, including research on IVF, infertility, and prenatal diagnosis, until national guidelines can be established. A de facto moratorium continues until the present. Basic, non-therapeutic, research using embryonic cells continues, out of public view. Congress establishes National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. The National Commission’s first mandate is ethical guidelines for fetal and embryo research (Wertz, 2002). The National Commission’s specifies that societal protection of human subjects should be extended to embryos and fetuses, even in the context of abortion, and...
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...Surrogacy is when another woman carries and gives birth to a child for another individual. Though it can be an emotionally intense and legally complex arrangement, it is growing in popularity among parents as a way of having children. Having another woman bear a child for a couple to raise, usually with the male half of the couple as the genetic father, is referred to in antiquity. Babylonian law and custom allowed this practice and infertile woman could use the practice to avoid a divorce, which would otherwise be inevitable. One well-known example is the Biblical story of Sarah and Abraham, a nomadic Hebrew couple unable to conceive. Sarah offered her Egyptian slave Hagar as a surrogate, but later drove her away from the camp when Hagar became impudent during pregnancy. Hagar fled to Egypt, where an angel told her that her son Ishmael would become a leader amongst the Hebrews; she subsequently returned to Sarah and Abraham. Surrogacy requires a lot of time, money and patience to succeed, whether it's carried out privately or through an agency. But it can bring happiness to all concerned if the medical, legal, financial and emotional aspects are properly considered. Why choose surrogacy Someone may choose surrogacy if one can't carry a pregnancy, perhaps because: * Have had recurrent miscarriages. * Have a health condition which makes pregnancy and birth dangerous. * Uterus (womb) is abnormal or absent, whether since birth or after a hysterectomy. *...
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...Surrogacy Laws in other parts of the world Surrogacy not only involves the personal desire of intended parents or surrogate mother but it also has to deal with different beliefs, culture, ethical dilemmas and local jurisdictions of different countries all around the world & hence the laws regarding surrogacy varies accordingly in different countries. Below are the summarised form of such variations in few relevant countries: 1. Australia: In Australia, commercial surrogacy is strictly prohibited & hence is against the law however a surrogate is free to choose it altruistically. In most of the states of Australia carrying out commercial surrogacy is a criminal offense, although the Northern Territory has no legislation governing surrogacy at...
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...A Deeper Look into Ethics and Laws Regarding Surrogacy HCA 322: Health Care Ethics and Medical Law A Deeper Look into Ethics and Laws Regarding Surrogacy When one or more persons contract with a woman to gestate a child than relinquish that child after birth to the person or couple is known as surrogacy. It is a course of action that goes outside of natural reproduction. For some, it is the only method of having children, extending family. Surrogacy has been stirring up many controversies over the years. Ethics, morals, laws, religious views, etc. have played a major role in the issues that follow the topic of surrogacy. Laws and regulations pertaining to surrogacy vary from state to state. Some states have no enforceable laws towards surrogacy, while others only permit surrogacy contracts that are uncompensated arrangements and gestational agreements (Trimarchi, 2011). Some states prohibit same sex couples from entering into any form of surrogacy contracts. In this paper, I will be address the legal and ethical issues involved and other aspects of surrogacy. History of Surrogacy and Case Study Surrogacy was assumed to have been around since the Babylonian times. Alternatively, the most credible records to date allocate managing legal passivity and the public responses during the middle of the 20th century. Surrogacy did not become public in 1976, when Attorney Noel Keane negotiated the first ever surrogacy agreement ("History of surrogacy," 2011). Attorney Noel Keane...
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...A Deeper Look into Ethics and Laws Regarding Surrogacy HCA 322: Health Care Ethics and Medical Law A Deeper Look into Ethics and Laws Regarding Surrogacy When one or more persons contract with a woman to gestate a child than relinquish that child after birth to the person or couple is known as surrogacy. It is a course of action that goes outside of natural reproduction. For some, it is the only method of having children, extending family. Surrogacy has been stirring up many controversies over the years. Ethics, morals, laws, religious views, etc. have played a major role in the issues that follow the topic of surrogacy. Laws and regulations pertaining to surrogacy vary from state to state. Some states have no enforceable laws towards surrogacy, while others only permit surrogacy contracts that are uncompensated arrangements and gestational agreements (Trimarchi, 2011). Some states prohibit same sex couples from entering into any form of surrogacy contracts. In this paper, I will be address the legal and ethical issues involved and other aspects of surrogacy. History of Surrogacy and Case Study Surrogacy was assumed to have been around since the Babylonian times. Alternatively, the most credible records to date allocate managing legal passivity and the public responses during the middle of the 20th century. Surrogacy did not become public in 1976, when Attorney Noel Keane negotiated the first ever surrogacy agreement ("History of surrogacy," 2011). Attorney Noel Keane...
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...Test tube babies have long been stigmatized by society as the unnatural results of scientific dabbling. The words `test tube baby' have been used by school children as an insult, and many adults have seen an artificial means of giving birth as something perhaps only necessary for a lesbian woman, or a luxury item only available to the elite few. The reality is that assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have been helping infertile couples have children since 1978.1 The methods of in vitro fertilization, it's variants, and the other ART procedures are ways for persons that would otherwise have no hope of conception to conceive and, in a rapidly growing percentage of cases, give birth to healthy babies. As the technology has developed, the quality and range of assistance has developed as well. At present, the means of assisted reproduction and the capabilities of these procedures has grown at a somewhat dizzying pace. However, thought to the repercussions of the applications of ART are being disregarded to some extent while the public's knowledge and the understanding of embryologists and geneticists surges forward. It is possible given consideration to things such as the morality of these techniques, the unexplored alternative uses of these procedures, and the potential impact they posses that further development is unnecessary and possibly dangerous. As of 1995, 20,000 babies had been born as a result of ART treatments.2 Since then, many women and couples have sought the...
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...Summer Internship Report My first summer internship, it was really interesting. While doing this internship I learned a lot, met a lot of lovely people and for a fact I enjoyed my summer vacations. I did my internship at an NGO named CONSUMERS INDIA. My internship was a 6 weeks internship in which we had to go for 4 weeks and the next 2 weeks i had to do online research work. I’ll just give brief information about the NGO- Consumers India is a non-profit organization set up by former officers of Department of Consumer Affairs and other senior officers of Government of India, with a view to use their knowledge and experience for the benefit of consumers. The organization was registered on 18.05.2007 under Societies Registration Act, 1860. It is also registered under Sections 12A read with section 12AA and 80 G (5) (vi) of Income Tax Act, 1961. The Department of Consumers Affairs in Govt. of India has permitted it to use the name ‘Consumers India’ under “Emblems and Names Act, 1950”. Consumers India has taken up several important campaigns with a view to safeguard interests of large number of consumers. Some of them relate to ‘Unethical Medical Practices’, ‘Misleading Advertising’, ‘Ageing with Dignity’, ‘Access to Affordable Medicines’, ‘End criminalization of Politics', ‘Justice for all…Just Now’, ‘I am a city changer’, ’Right to Information, ‘Junk the junk food’ etc. Catalyzing the energy of youth through Internship Programme and All-India Painting/Slogan/On-line...
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...I. INTRODUCTION The breakthrough discoveries in the field of assisted reproduction have brought new lights in the society. However, some of these discoveries evoked controversial issues. One of the controversial issues that received tremendous feedback is surrogate motherhood. As many couples fail to bear any child due to infertility, various alternatives appears to realize their dream of parenthood. One of the popular alternatives is surrogate motherhood. To begin with, the word “surrogate” means substitute. Surrogate motherhood is a term referred to an arrangement in which a woman becomes pregnant for the sole purpose of having a child that another couple will raise. This discovery causes to wake up each and everyone's mind. It also gave birth to the undying rivalry between pros and cons. Surrogacy is entitled with issues and controversies. It also left questions to our mind. Who really suffered and benefited with this? Other debates include moral and ethical questions. Does surrogacy go against natural selection, and is the burden it will cause to the children, the parents, and the surrogate mother, worth it? Some people believe that if an individual does not have the ability of reproduction, it should be selected, and technology should not be used to alter God’s plan. Surrogacy provides some couples with their only hope of raising a child genetically related to at least one of them. They believe that everyone should be given the chance to have a family, and if the surrogate...
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...Impact of Reproductive Technologies on Society Melanie Pescud, Tammy Knox, Carly Malpass, Kellie Cue ?? ‘Infertility is estimated to affect more than 80 million people worldwide, and while developments in reproductive technologies have evolved rapidly, so have the ethical, social and political controversies which surround nearly all aspects of their use’ (Vayena et al, 1997) People have accepted the practice of various forms of fertility treatment for thousands of years. Despite this, controversy surrounds these new reproductive technologies because they challenge the traditional understanding of the relationship between sex and procreation. Consequentially, this also has the potential to challenge the structure of linage and kinship networks. This report will investigate the reported and perceived social implications of some commonly used reproductive technologies currently used today; including contraception, in-vitro fertilisation, gamete intra-fallopian transfer, intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, gamete donation and abortion. Equality of Access Reproductive technologies have had a significant impact to the lives of many infertile and sub-fertile couples around the world. However, due to the high financial costs of these procedures, the access to these technologies is largely limited to Western society; particularly middle to high income earners. Consequentially, developing countries whom have the highest rates of infertility...
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...either ‘‘embryo splitting’’ or ‘‘nuclear transfer’’. Embryo splitting involves the separation of an early human embryo into two or more parts. Each of these parts has the potential to develop into a blastocyst (late embryo), which, if implanted, can develop into a child. This is how genetically identical monozygotic twins are created. Artificial embryo splitting has been successfully implemented in various mammals including sheep (Willadsen, 1981), cows (Willadsen, 1989), mice (Agrawal and Polge, 1989) and monkeys (Chan et al., 2000), but has been performed only to the pre-implantation stages in humans (Hall et al., 1993). Recently the American Society for Reproductive Medicine declared that human cloning by artificial embryo splitting was an ethical procedure to increase the number of implantable human blastocysts used in certain infertility treatments (ASRM, 2000). However, embryo splitting can produce only a limited number of cloned individuals as the early embryo can be separated only a limited number of times, and the procedure is not able to produce a ‘‘clone’’ of an adult that already exists. The other method for producing cloned humans, nuclear transfer, does not suffer from these limitations, and the rest of this article will focus on human cloning achieved via this technique. Nuclear transfer (or more specifically somatic cell nuclear transfer) is a conceptually simple procedure. The J. A. Byrne ¡ J. B. Gurdon ( ) Wellcome CRC Institute, Tennis Court Road Cambridge CB2 1QR...
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...Arguments in Regards to Traditional Marriage Angela Richardson PHI 103 Informal Logic John Ludes April.27 2015 Arguments in Regards to Traditional Marriage There are a lot of arguments in regards to traditional marriage and allowing same-sex marriage. This essay will review an argument in regards to the stance on not changing traditional marriage and will also provide a counterargument argument on the stance of not changing traditional marriage. This essay will also evaluate and identify the different components of both arguments. There has been a lot of debate in regards to whether traditional marriage should stay in tack or if it should be alltraled. The first argument we will review is against any changes to traditional marriage and that it should remain between a man and a woman. This argument consists of the idea that marriage should stay between a man and a women in order to produces and raise children together and that if marriage is changed it will no longer benefit society as it was originally designed. The argument also states keeping traditional marriage intact does not conflict with everyone’s liberty. One of the biggest premises the argument hold is that “Marriage exists to bring a man and a woman together as husband and wife to be father and mother to any children their union produces” (para. 8). This premise is based on the fact that it requires a man and a woman to produce a child and the belief that every child does better when raised by a mother and father...
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...Chapter 1: Ethical Theory Meta-ethical positions include: * Ethical non-cognitivism (concept that ethics is a matter of feelings) * Ethical relativism (concept that ethics is relative to a particular point of view) * Ethical objectivism (notion that ethics is objective in nature). Meta-Ethical Positions Ethical Non-cognitivism The basis of ethical non-cognitivism is that ethical disagreement can be a highly emotional affair where no amount of reasoning is likely to convince the other party. * Example: “Let’s just agree to disagree” Ethical Relativism * Ethical relativism says that while ethical statements are cognitively meaningful, they do not hold in any objective sense because they depend on our point of view. * If we accept ethical relativism, then ethical disagreement among people who do not share the same perspective becomes impossible. * It assumes that if people agree on something, then it must be true. * Ethical relativism is suspect for a pragmatic reason: it is fundamentally at variance with our social practice. * Example: “To each his own”, or the belief that what’s right for one group isn’t necessarily right for another Ethical Objectivism * Ethical objectivism holds that right and wrong are objective phenomena. * Example: “I’m right and you’re wrong” What is Ethics? * As a discipline, ethics is a branch of philosophy. * It deals with questions of right and wrong conduct, and with what we ought to do and what...
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...from choosing this type of surgery, but can also cost more than laparoscopic. Robotic surgery has been discussed for over two decades. Over the last decade, it has increased in popularity and applicability. There are many economic concerns over the use of this technology such as the cost versus the applicable use. There are also concerns about the implications the use of this technology will have on the environment, as well as moral and ethical concerns. By providing background information and history of this technology, information on the use of this technology, economical, sociological, and psychological effects and concerns associated with this technology, and information on environmental implications and moral and ethical concerns of this technology, we hope to provide readers a basis to form an educated opinion on the applicability of remote and robotic surgery. Table of Contents Abstract (Jesse Edwards)…...……………………………………………….…………………….ii Introduction (Jesse Edwards)……………………………………………….……………………..1 Description of Robotic Assisted Surgical Technology and What it Means to You (Gregory Dal Porto)………………………………………………………………………………………………1 What is Robotic Surgery (Gregory Dal Porto)..............………………………………….……….1 How Does it Work (Gregory Dal Porto)...………………………………………………………...1 What Types of Surgeries can be Done Using Robots (Gregory Dal Porto)...…………………….4 What Benefits are there for the...
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