HASHMI AND WHITAKER: AN UNJUSTIFIABLE AND MISGUIDED DISTINCTION?

摘要

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) recently provoked considerable debate with two decisions concerning the use of Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) and Human Leukocyte Antigen Tissue Typing (HLA typing) to allow parents to select embryos to become 'saviour siblings'. This paper considers the legal and ethical basis for the decisions, focusing firstly on whether the deliberate creation of saviour siblings is (and should be) lawful, and secondly on whether the distinction which the HFEA drew between the two cases is justified.