Liberty, Identity, and Human Cloning

摘要: John A. Robertson* Introduction The announcement in February 1997 of the birth Dolly, sheep cloned from mammary cells an adult ewe, was a turning point ethical and social debates over use assisted reproductive technologies. Prior to legal debate focused on creation discard human embryos kinship effects gamete donation surrogacy.' Dolly has now shifted focus issues selection engineering offspring traits. With rapid advances knowledge genome ability manipulate genes forthcoming, these will occupy for some time come. prospect that cloning might soon follow brought forth immediate political reaction. President Clinton declared ban federal funds research, called private sector moratorium cloning, asked National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC) report ninety days its recommendations public policy regarding cloning.2 Bills banning or research were introduced Congress several states.3 In early June, NBAC recommended enactment criminal law banned up five years,4 promptly submitted request Congress.5 Several foreign countries national international advisory bodies also prohibition cloning.6 Opposing at this stage development is easy. Nuclear transfer somatic not yet been replicated other species, much less humans, initial impressions are if simply bizarre hubristic, serves few pressing needs. If safety efficacy established, however, persuasive case can be made as technique assist infertile genetically at-risk couples have healthy children procure tissue organs transplant. As such, utilization technology would appear part one's fundamental right rear children.' key ethical, legal, question then posed whether achieve goals presents such special risks problems close regulation justified. Answering question, Cloning forces us rethink most basic way meaning individuality, personal identity, family, liberty. These concepts well-formed their core, but they blur margins. Reasoning by analogy core cases carry one only so far defining terms. We must define create we apply them various situations presented new Human illustrates dilemma perfectly well. When considered cloning's relation practices reproduction clarified, left, with clear answer, constitutive decision should view procreative liberty including techniques positive genetic cloning. Resolving further complicated still uncertain role forming identity. Many scientists committed uncovering role, answers elusive. desire clone arises precisely because viewed highly important, crucial, making people who are. Assigning significance genes, becoming crude form essentialism determinism. At same grants due, guard against expecting too them. thus bind: count lot, enough medical decisionmaking, simultaneously know represent story. Situations may arise which replicating existing makes good sense even though totally replicate person whose chosen. …