Saviour Siblings and the Regulation of Assisted Reproductive Technology: Harm, Ethics and Law / Edition 1

by Malcolm K. Smith

Overview

Advances in the field of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) have been revolutionary. This book focuses on the use of ARTs in the context of families who seek to conceive a matching sibling donor as a source of tissue to treat an existing sick child. Such children have been referred to as 'saviour siblings'. Considering the legal and regulatory frameworks that impact on the accessibility of this technology in Australia and the UK, the work analyses the ethical and moral issues that arise from the use of the technology for this specific purpose. The author claims the only justification for limiting a family's reproductive liberty in this context is where the exercise of reproductive decision-making results in harm to others. It is argued that the harm principle is the underlying feature of legislative action in Western democratic society, and as such, this principle provides the grounds upon which a strong and persuasive argument is made for a less-restrictive regulatory approach in the context of 'saviour siblings'. The book will be of great relevance and interest to academics, researchers, practitioners and policy makers in the fields of law, ethics, philosophy, science and medicine.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138379886
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/10/2019
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Malcolm Smith is Senior Lecturer in Law and a member of the Australian Centre for Health Law Research at Queensland University of Technology. His current research focuses on the legal, regulatory and ethical issues associated with assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). He has published in these and related areas.

Table of Contents

Preface; Conceiving saviour children: technological advances, ethical concern and legitimate regulatory oversight?; The regulatory landscape relevant to assisted reproductive technology; Regulating access to and the delivery of pre-implantation tissue-typing services; Liberty and reproductive decision-making; The harm principle as a means for justifying state intervention and regulation; Creating saviour children: what is the harm?; Creating saviour children: the wider ethical and moral arguments; Regulating assisted reproductive technology services for the creation of saviour children: a way forward; Bibliography; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"In this sensible and cogent analysis, Smith cuts to the heart of what is at stake in the regulation of the deliberate creation of 'saviour siblings'. This elegant book offers a highly stimulating read for anyone interested in this specific issue or in the regulation of assisted reproductive technologies more generally." - Sally Sheldon, Kent University, UK

"This multidisciplinary book provides an innovative and scholarly model for examining the present and future impact of Assisted Reproductive Technologies on the family - the foundation of society. Furthermore, it will appeal to regulators, medical practitioners and lawyers." - Kerry Petersen, La Trobe University, Australia

"This book provides an excellent resource for those who have specific interest in the area of saviour siblings. It also provides valuable analysis for those with a more general interest in questions of creation ethics and how we should regulate reproductive choice. Smith's style is thorough and considered. He challenges accepted wisdom about how we should regulate reproductive activities and provides a clear path forward in this area. I would highly recommend this book." - Sheelagh McGuinness, University of Birmingham, UK

From the Publisher