Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis Essay

Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a prenatal diagnosis specifically for parents with a high risk of producing an offspring with a serious genetic disorder. This is a socio scientific issue as there are many viewpoints and opinion surrounding this topic.
PGD is only permitted if there is a 25% chance of inheritance of the serious condition or if there is a high chance of inheriting chromosome abnormalities which is associated to recurrent miscarriages or advanced maternal age. Approval is also permitted to produce a HLA (Human leukocyte antigen) “saviour sibling.” The genetic makeup of the embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Through the process of IVF the embryo is fertilized outside the womb. Once multiple embryos have been created they are placed back into the mother’s womb, where they develop until they are born. 1
The embryos are surgically removed through IVF then are placed into a petry dish to be fertilised by the donated sperm. The embryo is left for three days to allow it
F. Kilner, the president of the Centre of Bioethics and Human Dignity believes that “Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Destroys Human Life.” In his opinion he believes that PGD is an example of rushing to solve a serious human problem, by using an easily accessible method, instead of trying to find an ethical method. Kilner expresses that the children produced though PGD are born due to the fact that they do not carry any unwanted genetic abnormality. If they did have an abnormality In their embryo it would be terminated, as he states, “Their lives would have been terminated if they didn’t measure up to being “normal.”” He believes this is unethical because embryos are not just cells but entire beings. Therefore human embryos are human beings. Kilner is acknowledging that the money that is spent on PGD in order to decipher which embryo needs to be discarded instead of developing ethical ways of preventing and curing the genetic