Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Inclusive Fitness00:57

Inclusive Fitness

23.6K
Most altruistic behavior—in which one animal helps another at a cost to themselves—occurs between relatives. Scientists think these altruistic behaviors evolved because they increase the inclusive fitness of the animal providing help.
23.6K
Ethics and Bioethics01:22

Ethics and Bioethics

3.2K
Ethics is a philosophical study of moral actions. Ethics attempts to determine what is valuable for individuals and society. It examines the rational justification of moral judgments and analyzes what is morally just, fair, and right. Bioethics is a sub-discipline of applied ethics that analyzes the philosophical, social, and legal issues in life sciences and medicine. Ethical theories serve as a foundation for decision-making and represent the viewpoints from which people seek direction. They...
3.2K
Ethical Dilemmas I01:17

Ethical Dilemmas I

2.1K
Ethical dilemmas in nursing are of utmost importance, as they often arise from the tension between adhering to core ethical principles and the practical realities of healthcare delivery. These dilemmas require nurses to navigate complex situations where competing ethical considerations pull them in different directions.
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
2.1K
Nursing Ethical Principles I01:22

Nursing Ethical Principles I

4.7K
Ethical principles serve as the moral compass in the longstanding tradition of nursing, guiding healthcare professionals in their interactions with patients and families. These principles, namely autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity, provide a robust framework for navigating the ethical complexities of daily nursing practice.
Autonomy
Autonomy underscores the significance of a patient's self-determination and freedom from external control. In healthcare, respecting...
4.7K
Altruism01:03

Altruism

29.9K
Altruistic behaviors are “unselfish” behaviors—those that help another individual at the expense of the individual carrying out the behavior. Despite the negative consequences for the altruistic animal, these behaviors are thought to have evolved for several reasons.
29.9K
Parental Care00:55

Parental Care

11.7K
Many animals exhibit parental care behavior, including feeding, grooming, and protecting young offspring. Parental care is universal in mammals and birds, which often have young that are born relatively helpless. Several species of insects and fish, as well as some amphibians, also care for their young.
11.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Vaccine mandates impair voluntariness, even if consent-receivers do not.

Journal of medical ethics·2025
Same author

A generational ban creates inequality between non-smokers.

Journal of medical ethics·2025
Same author

Extending the ladder: a comment on Paetkau's stairway proposal.

Journal of medical ethics·2024
Same author

Letter in response to Armitage (2024) Non-directed (altruistic) kidney donation: Altruism or insurance policy? J Eval Clin Pract., https://doi.org/10.1111/jep.13929.

Journal of evaluation in clinical practice·2024
Same author

Fetuses are not adult humans: a response to Miller on abortion.

Journal of medical ethics·2024
Same author

Healthcare strikes and the ethics of voting in ballots.

Journal of medical ethics·2023
Same journal

Assisted dying and autonomy as an end in itself: a response to Donaldson.

Journal of medical ethics·2026
Same journal

Ethics briefing.

Journal of medical ethics·2026
Same journal

Medical ethics and categorisation.

Journal of medical ethics·2026
Same journal

Suspension or prioritisation? Exploring the ethics of age-based rationing in adult ADHD services.

Journal of medical ethics·2026
Same journal

Ethics of not knowing who we are talking to in qualitative research.

Journal of medical ethics·2026
Same journal

Suicide is not a public health issue and perhaps very few things should be.

Journal of medical ethics·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Long-Term Health Impacts of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection on Offspring
06:11

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Long-Term Health Impacts of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection on Offspring

Published on: May 17, 2024

1.3K

Is procreative beneficence obligatory?

Ben Saunders

    Journal of Medical Ethics
    |February 14, 2014
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Parents may not be morally obligated to select the child with the best expected life, despite arguments for procreative beneficence. This challenges the idea that moral reasons equate to moral obligations in reproductive choices.

    Keywords:
    Embryos and FetusesEnhancementEthicsFamilyGenetic Selection

    More Related Videos

    Collection of Human Follicular Fluid, Follicle Somatic Cells, and Immature Oocytes from Individuals Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization
    06:40

    Collection of Human Follicular Fluid, Follicle Somatic Cells, and Immature Oocytes from Individuals Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization

    Published on: October 24, 2025

    1.3K
    Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives
    08:46

    Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives

    Published on: September 16, 2021

    6.0K

    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: May 3, 2026

    Author Spotlight: Exploring the Long-Term Health Impacts of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection on Offspring
    06:11

    Author Spotlight: Exploring the Long-Term Health Impacts of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection on Offspring

    Published on: May 17, 2024

    1.3K
    Collection of Human Follicular Fluid, Follicle Somatic Cells, and Immature Oocytes from Individuals Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization
    06:40

    Collection of Human Follicular Fluid, Follicle Somatic Cells, and Immature Oocytes from Individuals Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization

    Published on: October 24, 2025

    1.3K
    Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives
    08:46

    Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives

    Published on: September 16, 2021

    6.0K

    Area of Science:

    • Bioethics
    • Moral Philosophy
    • Reproductive Ethics

    Background:

    • The principle of procreative beneficence suggests parents should aim for the child with the best possible life.
    • Julian Savulescu is a prominent defender of this principle, positing a moral obligation for prospective parents.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To critically evaluate Savulescu's argument for the obligatory nature of procreative beneficence.
    • To distinguish between moral reasons and moral obligations in the context of reproductive decision-making.

    Main Methods:

    • Philosophical analysis of Savulescu's concept of procreative beneficence.
    • Examination of the relationship between moral reasons and moral obligations.
    • Critique of the assumption that having the most moral reason implies a moral obligation.

    Main Results:

    • Savulescu's argument for procreative beneficence as a genuine moral obligation is found to be unconvincing.
    • The study highlights an equivocation in Savulescu's work between moral reason and moral obligation.
    • It is argued that while parents may have moral reasons to pursue beneficence, this does not necessitate a strict obligation.

    Conclusions:

    • The principle of procreative beneficence, as defended by Savulescu, is not demonstrably obligatory.
    • Prospective parents may have moral reasons, but not necessarily a moral obligation, to choose the child with the best expected life.
    • Further philosophical inquiry is needed to clarify the scope of parental obligations in reproductive choices.