Embryo selection, gene editing, and the person-affecting principle.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive medicine ethics
• Bioethics
• Philosophy of medicine

Background:

• Embryo selection (ES) and gene editing (GE) are emerging reproductive technologies.
• Ethical frameworks are needed to guide decisions regarding these interventions.
• Pummer's Person-Affecting View (PAV) offers a novel lens for ethical analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the ethical implications of embryo selection (ES) and gene editing (GE) in reproductive medicine.
• To apply Pummer's Person-Affecting View (PAV) to compare the ethical permissibility of ES and GE.
• To determine conditions under which GE might be ethically preferable to ES.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of ethical implications using Pummer's Person-Affecting View (PAV).
• Application of PAV to hypothetical scenarios involving embryo selection and gene editing.
• Evaluation of expected happiness and suffering of potential future children.

Main Results:

• Gene editing (GE) can be ethically preferable to embryo selection (ES) in specific reproductive contexts, even if numerical identity is altered.
• The permissibility of ES and GE is contingent on the specific genetic disorder.
• PAV analysis highlights the importance of balancing potential benefits and harms for the future individual.

Conclusions:

• The ethical justification of embryo selection and gene editing hinges on a case-by-case assessment of potential well-being.
• Pummer's Person-Affecting View provides a valuable framework for navigating complex reproductive ethics decisions.
• Further ethical deliberation is required to establish clear guidelines for the use of ES and GE.