Reproductive Embryo Editing: Attending to Justice

Hastings Cent Rep. 2022 Jul;52(4):26-33. doi: 10.1002/hast.1406.

Abstract

The use of embryonic genome editing tools is often touted as a way to ensure the birth of healthy and genetically related children. Many would agree that this is a worthy goal. Yet the purpose of this article is to argue that, if we are concerned with justice, accepting such a goal as morally appropriate commits one to rejecting the use of social resources for further development of embryo editing for reproductive purposes. This is so because there are safer and more effective means that can allow many more prospective parents to achieve the same valued goal and that can offer additional benefits.

Keywords: CRISPR; bioethics; distributive justice; genetically related children; marginalized populations; reproductive ethics.

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Gene Editing*
  • Humans
  • Parents
  • Prospective Studies
  • Social Justice*