Woman loses final embryo appeal

Natallie Evans began IVF treatment with her partner after learning that she had ovarian cancer. Six fertilised embryos were frozen so she could have children later. However, she split up with her partner, and he then withdrew his consent for these embryos to be used. This means that Ms Evans cannot have children. Today was her final chance, as the Grand Chamber of the European Court agreed with the British courts and the European Court of Human Rights, that her ex-partner's right to withdraw consent should be upheld. This will mean that the six embryos will now be destroyed. Click here for an article by the BBC.

AS students ... you may need to consider issues such as this in your exam. Whose rights should be considered here? The woman, her ex-partner, the embryo? What stance would different theories take?

AS Ethics - Main Paper

Here's an overview of what you need to know for the main Ethics paper:

Kant and the Categorical Imperative
- Immanuel Kant (Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals, 1785)
- The moral law
- Good will and duty
- The Imperatives (Categorical and Hypothetical)
- The Kingdom of Ends
- Strengths and Weaknesses
- Position on Medical Ethics (abortion, euthanasia, genetic engineering, embryology, right to a child)

Utilitarianism

- Jeremy Bentham (Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, 1789)
- Principle of Utility
- Teleological ... consequences
- Humans seek pleasure and try to avoid pain.
- An action is right if it produces the greatest good for the greatest number.
- The Hedonic Calculus: intensity, duration, certainty, closeness, followed by similar sensations, purity, extent.

- John Stuart Mill (Utilitarianism, 1863)
- If quantitative pleasure, nothing would stop one's pleasure being extinguished for the sake of the minority.
- Therefore: qualitative pleasures are better.
- Higher pleasures (of the mind) and lower pleasures (of the body)

- Act Utilitarianism
- each individual situation
- flexible
- could justify virtually any act

- Rule Utilitarianism
- best overall rule which if followed by whole community leads to greatest result
- JSM: I must obey the rule even if it does not lead to the greatest pleasure for me in this situation
- could still permit morally unacceptable practices eg slavery

- Strengths and Weaknesses of each position
- Position on Medical Ethics

Absolute and Relative Morality
- Know the difference between the two
- Know examples of Ethical Theories that fit into each
- Know Philosophers attached to each
- Know strengths and weaknesses of each
- Know the position of each on Medical Ethics

Medical Ethics
- You will be asked questions about the positions of various ethical theories on the following areas of medical ethics:
- Abortion
- Euthanasia
- Genetic Engineering (in particular, cloning)
- Embryology
- The right to a child (not to be confused with the right to life!)
- You should know the strengths and weaknesses of each of the theories when dealing with these issues.
- You should know some key facts and issues that should be addressed in each issue.

As you can see, we still have a lot to revise ... watch this space for more help, suggestions and exam questions!

IVF in the news

Twin IVF births 'need to be cut' says the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority. Women often used to have more than one embryo implanted to make it more likely that one would survive. However, IVF has become more successful, so the number of twins being born has increased. These twins are more likely to be born premature, and therefore are more at risks of encountering other problems. There is therefore a suggestion that women should be encouraged to be only given one embryo - but at the risk that this embryo might not survive.

Read the articles, watch the film, and consider not only what you think, but also what Kant, Fletcher, Bentham, Mills, Catholics, Liberal Protestants might think. Post a comment, AS class! Get involved ... let's try and start a discussion.