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Personal desires of patients and social obligations of geneticists: applying preimplantation genetic diagnosis for non‐medical sex selection
Author(s) -
Pennings Guido
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
prenatal diagnosis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.956
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1097-0223
pISSN - 0197-3851
DOI - 10.1002/pd.499
Subject(s) - preimplantation genetic diagnosis , sex selection , reputation , selection (genetic algorithm) , psychology , investment (military) , medicine , public relations , family medicine , political science , law , pregnancy , computer science , genetics , artificial intelligence , obstetrics , politics , biology
The arguments against the use of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for non‐medical sex selection are analysed. It is concluded that the distinction between medical and non‐medical reasons is difficult to maintain, that the disproportionality of means and end is not a decisive counterargument and that the fear of damage to the reputation of PGD does not justify the refusal of controversial applications. Moreover, since non‐medical sex selection does not belong to basic health care, it should not be equally accessible to all. The position defended in this article is founded on two basic principles: (1) medical reasons have priority on non‐medical reasons, and (2) personal reasons do not qualify for public funding. In order to respect both principles, it is proposed that restrictions should be installed to control the number of requests for social sexing and that a tax should be imposed on these elective services. The tax should compensate the society for the investment it made in the training and education of the physician. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.