Ethical Considerations Behind New Alternatives to Abortion.
Eric Bronkhurst
Prof. Robinson
10/31/06
Question #2 With technological advances of today, parents who are unable to substantially procreate are now given the opportunity to bear children. New techniques for procreation include Artificial Insemination, Surrogacy and In-Vitro Fertilization, all which have brought about happiness to families. Unfortunately, at the same time many of these new reproductive techniques may bring about ethical considerations and debates, causing pain and legal arguments. All of these ethical considerations warrant governmental and contractual regulation as a way of guidance in handling these situations. The ethical considerations and debates that surround many of these new reproductive techniques are solely concerned mainly with Surrogacy and In-Vitro Fertilization. Although some instances of debates arise through Artificial Insemination, it is ultimately with the issue of AID or Artificial Insemination Donor. Many questions arise due to this artificial donor, such as who is legally the father of the child? Should the father be allowed visitation rights to child? The questions all arise in different cases which shall be discussed. Another issue in regarding the AID is whether the donor is anonymous or through a chosen donor. In the case of RE Adoption of Anonymous in 1973, the ethical consideration of who is the legal father in a consensual AID case. The issue present is whether the father of the child is considered its "legal" father even though the child was conceived through an artificial donor. After the divorce, the new husband wanted to adopt the child but real father would not give his consent. The court ruled that the defendant of consensual AID is in fact considered the legal father of the child and the term "father" is not limited to biological or natural. (Appleton, 1103) This precedent was distinguished in the case of People v. Sorensen in 1969, which stated that the father of a consensual AID child is
Prof. Robinson
10/31/06
Question #2 With technological advances of today, parents who are unable to substantially procreate are now given the opportunity to bear children. New techniques for procreation include Artificial Insemination, Surrogacy and In-Vitro Fertilization, all which have brought about happiness to families. Unfortunately, at the same time many of these new reproductive techniques may bring about ethical considerations and debates, causing pain and legal arguments. All of these ethical considerations warrant governmental and contractual regulation as a way of guidance in handling these situations. The ethical considerations and debates that surround many of these new reproductive techniques are solely concerned mainly with Surrogacy and In-Vitro Fertilization. Although some instances of debates arise through Artificial Insemination, it is ultimately with the issue of AID or Artificial Insemination Donor. Many questions arise due to this artificial donor, such as who is legally the father of the child? Should the father be allowed visitation rights to child? The questions all arise in different cases which shall be discussed. Another issue in regarding the AID is whether the donor is anonymous or through a chosen donor. In the case of RE Adoption of Anonymous in 1973, the ethical consideration of who is the legal father in a consensual AID case. The issue present is whether the father of the child is considered its "legal" father even though the child was conceived through an artificial donor. After the divorce, the new husband wanted to adopt the child but real father would not give his consent. The court ruled that the defendant of consensual AID is in fact considered the legal father of the child and the term "father" is not limited to biological or natural. (Appleton, 1103) This precedent was distinguished in the case of People v. Sorensen in 1969, which stated that the father of a consensual AID child is