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Chapter-12 Beginning of Life Issues

BOOK TITLE: A Textbook of Bioethics for Healthcare Professionals

Author
1. Palatty Princy Louis
2. U Ashish Kumar
3. D’Souza Russell
ISBN
9789352704682
DOI
10.5005/jp/books/18064_13
Edition
1/e
Publishing Year
2018
Pages
6
Author Affiliations
1. Father Muller Medical College, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); Father Muller Medical College, and National Chair Curriculum
2. St John’s Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
3. Asia Pacific Division, UNESCO; Israel
Chapter keywords
Contraception, assisted reproductive technology, in vitro fertilization, prenatal diagnosis, abortion, designer baby, three-parent child, adoption, surrogacy

Abstract

Beginning of life issues include those ethical issues, which arises with various acts before the childbirth. We need to acquaint ourselves with moral, ethical and legal issues associated with beginning of life issues in order to protect human life. The development of human beings, from conception to the period after birth, is fraught with life and death issues. This journey is a fascinating phenomenon. Science and technology have helped us to understand many facets of this process. This knowledge has helped us to diagnose and treat many medical problems. The embryo in the biological sense is alive and has a distinct genetic identity, but major religions differ on the status they accord to the embryo and fetus. Some believe that human status begins at period of viability (20 weeks) and some when the fetus is born. Contraception, assisted reproductive technology (ART) [in vitro fertilization (IVF)], prenatal diagnosis, abortion, stem cell research/cloning, designer baby, three-parent child, adoption, and surrogacy are the various ethical aspects related issues, which are addressed in this chapter.

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