Community must debate issue of embryonic selection

Dr Glasson was commenting on the case of a pregnant Tasmanian woman whose baby will provide life saving tissue for his brother. 

"The AMA is not opposed to embryonic selection if those embryos are being selected to avoid fatal or seriously and permanently disabling diseases," Dr Glasson said.

"But every human being should be treated with respect and dignity.

"The decision to have a child should always be made with that individual child's best interests at heart.

"The AMA would not sanction the selection of an embryo simply to produce a child exclusively to help treat an existing sibling.

"If the intent is to create another child that is disease free and can help the sibling then it could be argued that it is ethically correct.

"But if the intent is to create an embryo that is compatible with the sick child and in doing so discards a series of other embryos, then the process has to be questioned.

"It's a difficult one.

"I think it's one that society has to talk about.

"Some view genetic selection as a form of genetic engineering - the beginning of the slippery slope that will see embryos selected for, say, eye colour or 'intelligence'.

"To accept the production of children for the sole purpose of providing tissues or organs for others is to sanction the creation of a subordinate class of human beings with few rights.

"Science is getting ahead of the ethics of the issue, and as a community I think we have to talk about it," Dr Glasson said.

CONTACT:     John Flannery   (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761

                   Judith Tokley    (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306