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Now They Want To Take Embryos From Dying Children And Mentally Incapacitated Adults Without Consent...?

Following on from the recent proposal for 'presumed consent' for the removal of body organs , the Government are now considering lifting the ban on removing embryos from dying children and mentally incapacitated adults without their consent. Is it just me or is anybody else concerned about where all this is going?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7218176.stm

The government is looking into calls to lift a ban on creating human or human-animal "hybrid" embryos from dying children to aid key research.

The current Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill would not allow the procedure to take place unless the child was competent to give consent.

But critics argue many of these children die before this might happen.

They say the embryos could be crucial to understanding how these diseases work, and thus pave the way for cures.

11 Answers

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  • trish
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    They want to create hybrid embryos from cells taken from dying children. All science fiction to me.

    I think it depends on which side of the fence you are at the time. If my child was dying (God Forbid) I think I would want the scientist to do all they could to find a cure! However the thought of what they are going to do, now makes me think of Frankenstein and his monster.

    It doesn't seem ethical and to do it without given consent is definitely out of order and can in no circumstances be right. It also poses the question what next?

    Once they are able to do this without permission they will obviously , in the name of science and the good of mankind, of course, start looking for the next step.

    Quite right Elvis It is scary and a grave cause for concern

  • 1 decade ago

    I believe that everyone has the right to give or refuse consent and if, as in this case, a child is unable to (or a mentally incapacitated adult) then the procedure should not go ahead. Whilst I deeply sympathise with the need for research to be done, our rights as human beings should not be ignored. This is just another step towards dictatorship.

  • 1 decade ago

    You need some schooling on basic reading comprehension.

    There is nothing there about removing embryos from anyone.

    They are talking about harvesting cells from dying children to create embryonic DNA in a test tube so they can study the diseased cells.

    Yes, there is a critical ethical question about cloning and what kinds of cells they create, but don't make it look like they are performing abortions on dying children in comas.

    Taking cells, and using those cells to create clones for research, that could never, ever, even potentially, get close to being viable. The ethics questions revolve around the morality of creating these kinds of embryos for research. It's a serious question, and your ignorant take on it does not justice to the topic.

  • 1 decade ago

    First of all , let us get the report correct. The proposal is to remove SKIN CELLS from these people. Such cells would be cultured and may be cloned.

    Action regarding children is currently the responsibility of the parents or guardian. Informed consent is required eg for hospital treatment. So there is little change required.

    Do you not think that parents would be willing to allow tissue retrieval from such patients if they could see a ;potential benefit to alleviate suffering in others?

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  • justa
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    How are dying children getting pregnant?

    Because that's how you get an embryo.

    This is a very mixed up article. They are removing skin cells.

    Not embryos.

    Its an article about almost science fiction type of research between species. We aren't anywhere near that kind of thing. Its like discussing the dress you want to wear for you first Martian gala.

  • PD
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    i don't see were this is any different than a parent giving consent to remove an organ from a dying child - actually yes i do - this is far less of an issue

    - note they are taking just dna from there skin cells - BIG DEAL

  • 1 decade ago

    Take embryos from dying children? Why are dying children getting pregnant?

  • 1 decade ago

    Great Idea...Welcome to Science. Regardless what the USA does, its going to happen in another country because we've completely lost our edge in being the best.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Embryos are already fertilized eggs. That's pretty rare in very ill children.

  • 1 decade ago

    yes i agree with bob b it is dodgy ground. lets face it without some of the things science has had to do good or bad, there wouldn't be the medical breakthrough's there have been. good arguments both sides though.

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