Arguments For
PGD to prevent a genetic disorder
- Parents may already be struggling to cope with a very sick child
- The law allows late abortions to prevent serious disability - this is a much earlier, easier intervention
- It is the parents who will have to look after the child - they should choose
- As well as causing severe pain, some disorders lead to premature death, loss of dignity, severe mental illness etc.
- A parent may already have a severe disablity themselves, and may not be around long to look after a child with the same condition
PGS for gender selection
- Some parents abort, say, unwanted girls - this is a painless alternative
- Everyone in the family benefits from a balance of genders
- The parents have a right to choose
- God gave us the brains to work out how to do this, so it must be right
- If a child of one gender dies, the family might really miss having, say, a girl around (e.g. Mastertons)
Designer Babies (enhancement)
- We spend lots on education to make us more intelligent, exercise to make us fitter, diet to make us healthier - why not improve all of these using genetics?
- It gives your child the best start in life
- We use these techniques on crops to improve yield and on animals - why not humans?
- It's just giving evolution a helping hand
- People who are stronger, more intelligent and more attractive are also going to be happier