UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-1997 When playing God: Concerning artificial eprr oduction Christina Ann Brandom Sessa University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Sessa, Christina Ann Brandom, "When playing God: Concerning artificial eprr oduction" (1997). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 3347. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/wfm9-nlr7 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. 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WHEN PLAYING GOD: CONCERNING ARTIFICIAL REPRODUCTION by Christina Ann Brandom Sessa A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Ethics and Policy Studies Institute for Ethics and Policy Studies University of Nevada, Las Vegas July 1997 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1387152 UM I Microform 1387152 Copyright 1997, by U M I Company. A ll rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeh Road Ann Arbor, M I 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ©1997 Christina Ann Brandom Sessa All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. The Thesis of Christina Ann Brandom Sessa for the degree of Master of Arts in Ethics and Policy Studies is approved. Chairperson, Alan Zundel, Ph.O Examining Committey Member, Craig Walton, Ph.D. Exar^f^^ôommitfee Member, Jeny^ifnich, Ph D Graduate Faculty Pepi6ente^e, Richard Jensen, Ph.D. Dean of the Graduate College, Ronald W. Smith, Ph.D. University of Nevada, Las Vegas July 1997 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT This thesis is a discussion about new reproductive technologies and the ethical implications of those technologies. Until now, fetal personhood was the focus of pro-choice and pro-life groups battling about abortion versus women's rights. However, new reproductive technologies such asin vitro fertilization and cryopreservation further complicate the foundation upon which traditional abortion arguments are based. The focus of the argument should be shifted from fetal personhood to a more comprehensive argument for the respect of the sanctity of human life. This shift would force society to address the more crucial issues which have led us to abortion and new reproductive technologies - reproductive irresponsibility. Six contributors to the area of abortion and new reproductive technologies are reviewed in order to establish the state of the arguments. I conclude that the sanctity of human life and sexual responsibility is a better focal point for the ethical discussion of new reproductive technologies. Ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT............................................................................................. iii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................. 1 Fetal Personhood Revisited........................................................... 2 Test Tulje Babies and More ........................................................... 3 Discussion at Hand........................................................................ 4 CHAPTER 2 NEW REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES.......................... 8 Assisted vs. A rtificial.................................................................... 8 Louise Brown, Bom July 25,1978 ................................................ 11 What are the Procedures? ............................................................ 13 The Costs of Artificial Reproduction .............................................. 16 CHAPTER 3 ABORTION HISTORY....................................................... 23 Eighteenth Century Laws.............................................................. 24 Nineteenth Century Laws.............................................................. 25 The Roman Catholic Position ........................................................ 28 Women's Early Involvement.......................................................... 29 Early to Mid-twentieth Century Laws.............................................. 31 Laws from the 1950's to the 1970's ................................................ 32 Women's Involvement: 1950'sto 1970's........................................ 34 Foundation Cases for Roe v. Wade ............................................... 37 Roe V. Wade .................................................................................. 38 Challenges to Roe v. W ade ........................................................... 39 In Retrospect................................................................................ 42 CHAPTER 4 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NRT LITERATURE.......................... 43 Contributors.................................................................................. 43 Raymond........................................................................... 44 T rib e .................................................................................. 49 Heyd.................................................................................. 54 Vatican ................................................................................ 60 To Sum Up.................................................................................... 67 CHAPTER 5 FETAL PERSONHOOD & RIGHTS ..................................... 69 Opinions About Fetal Personhood & Rights.................................... 69 Life's Dominion.............................................................................. 73 In a Nutshell ................................................................................. 83 CHAPTER 6 REPRODUCTIVE RESPONSIBILITY .................................. 89 Responsibility................................................................................ 90 Ethic of Responsibility ................................................................... 96 Responsibility versus Right........................................................... 99 CHAPTER 7 CONCLUSION.................................................................. 103 APPENDIX I COPYRIGHT PERMISSION FORMS.................................. 108 BIBLIOGRAPHY...................................................................................... 116 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Imagine a society where everything is treated as a commodity. A society where such commodities include human beings. Imagine no more. Welive in a society which does buy, sell, and dispose of human beings much like a commodity such as oranges. Through the use of new reproductive technologies infertile individuals are now able to conceive children; however, these procedures require the storage and disposal of sperm, eggs and embryos. Each of these reproductive by-products can be either used by the genetic provider or can be sold to someone else