Cloning and Ethics

Paper Summary:

This paper is a research paper on human cloning and specifically the legal and ethical implications as they apply to the United Kingdom and the United States. The paper begins by defining the notions implied by the word cloning and then proceeds to provide a precise analysis of the legal situation in the United Kingdom and the United States in order to facilitate an examination of the evolution of cloning in the United Kingdom as well as the contradictions that may exist between what is said and what is done in the United States. The paper contends that any discussion on cloning must take place in the international arena and not just on a national level, and that morals and ethics play an important role in the debate on cloning at both levels. Finally, the paper attempts to show the danger of the absence of legislation on cloning by giving a practical view of what is currently possible. This paper includes colour photographs and charts.

Outline:
Introduction
Basic Notions
Reproductive Cloning
National Laws In Force And The Influence Of International Organisations9
The Situation In The United Kingdom
The Situation In The United States
The International Organisations' Approach
The Implications Of Ethics
Generalities On Moral Issue
Identity Issue
Religions' Views On Cloning
Clonaid
Conclusion
Information Requests Mails
Unsuccessful Attempts To Obtain Information
E-Mail Deleted Without Being Read
Adolph Grunbaum
The Experts Actively Involved In Our Project
V.J. Norris And Michael W. Shaw, University Of Reading (United Kingdom)
Jeff Macmahan And Katrien Devolder
Rosario Isasi, Jd, Mph, Faculty Of Law, Montreal University
Bilbliography
Annexes

From the Paper:

"In 2001, the United Kingdom passed what became one of the most liberal laws on human cloning. This may appear contradictory with what has been said in the introduction of this study, i.e. that Britain was the first nation set to ban cloning although they were the first to have legalised it. Indeed, this might have been perceived as an evolution and it would have been interesting to see why such an evolution occurred: why do people who first authorised cloning then changed their mind and finally decided to ban it? The fact is that the new piece of legislation actually covers reproductive cloning and not therapeutic cloning. However, since the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act of 1990, therapeutic cloning is legal for scientists who have been granted a state licence by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. The law allows cloning and growth of human embryos up to fourteen days for research purposes. What is now expressly prohibited with the law of 2001 is the transfer of cloned embryos into a woman's womb, but this has never been legal before 2001."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cloning, Katrien Devolder, 2008 (this article has not been published yet)
• The moral status of the human embryo, Robert P George, Alfonso Gomez-Lobo, Perspective in Biology and Medicine, Chicago, spring 2005. Vol. 48, Iss. 2, p.201-10
• England's cloning ban, not a ban, Katryn Jean Lopez, Pro-Life Infonet, April 24th 2001Ethical aspects of cloning techniques, Anonymous, Journal of Medical Ethics, London, December 1997. Vol. 23, Iss. 6, p.349-352
• Cloning, killing and identity, Jeff McMahan, Journal of Medical Ethics, London, April 1999. Vol. 25, Iss. 2, p.77-87
• Cloning and Culture: Legislation at home and Abroad, David A. Prentice, Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, Washington, summer 2004. Vol. 5, Iss. 2, p.65-72

More papers on Cloning and Ethics:

• Argumentative Essay # 121809 : "Human Cloning and Ethics"
• Persuasive Essay # 93798 : "Therapeutic Cloning and Biomedical Ethics"
• Term Paper # 122235 : "Cloning and Society"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: