This project would address several questions concerning parental rights and responsibilities in forming families and the morality of using genetic technology to prevent or create children with impairments: 1) Are genetic impairments subject to greater concern than other alleged sources of harm to future children? If so, is that greater concern justified? 2) Do public attitudes, practices, and policies toward reproductive conduct take account of whether that conduct affects the identity of the future child? Should they? 3) Can we reconcile our attitudes, practices, and policies toward: a/ the use of genetic technologies to select allegedly harmful genetic features or the failure or refusal to select against those features; b/ the use of those technologies to select """"""""positive"""""""" or desired genetic features; c/ the use of reproductive technologies that create children with unclear lineages and unconventional family structures; d/ the risk of harm to future children arising from such activities by pregnant women as high-risk employment and heavy alcohol consumption; and e/ the risk of harm to existing children arising from deficient, neglectful, or abusive parenting. In addressing these questions, the investigators would employ conceptual and ethical analysis, informed by a close review of the relevant empirical and policy literatures.?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
5R03HG004249-02
Application #
7490100
Study Section
Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of Human Genetics Study Section (ELS)
Program Officer
Boyer, Joy
Project Start
2007-09-01
Project End
2010-06-30
Budget Start
2008-07-01
Budget End
2010-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$83,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Department
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
110521739
City
Bronx
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10461
Wasserman, David; Asch, Adrienne (2009) An unjustified exception to an unjust law? Am J Bioeth 9:63-5