Bioethics : Practice Questions

Under the topic of Bioethics, what is the primary purpose of the principle of informed consent in the relationship between health care professionals and patients?

A couple undergoes gender selection for their third child after having two children of the same gender, citing a strong desire for a balanced family. Ethically, a significant concern with this practice, beyond the potential for discrimination, is that it might:

In Bioethics, critics of gender selection for non-medical reasons often argue that it treats a future child as a 'commodity' to satisfy parental desires rather than as a person with their own inherent dignity. This criticism is most closely aligned with:

In the debate over Bioethics, some bioethicists argue that permitting non-medical gender selection through technologies like Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) could lead to a 'slippery slope.' Their primary concern is that this practice may:

Differentiate between voluntary euthanasia and non-voluntary euthanasia based on the patient's capacity and consent regarding the decision in Bioethics.

Recent advancements in biotechnology, particularly gene editing (genetic engineering), have raised profound ethical questions about intervening in human reproduction and heredity. Suppose scientists develop a safe and effective technique to modify human germline cells to enhance non-therapeutic traits, such as increasing cognitive capacity in future children.

(a) Differentiate precisely between somatic gene therapy and germline gene editing. Explain why germline editing presents significantly greater ethical concerns regarding future generations and the human gene pool.

(b) Evaluate two ethical arguments against using genetic engineering for human enhancement in this context. Your evaluation should consider potential issues related to justice/fairness/equality and the concept of inherent human dignity.