Autonomy and Responsibility in Reproductive Genetics

Sirkku K Hellsten, The University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

Published online: September 2009

DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0005898.pub2

The principle of respecting individual autonomy has traditionally been the most powerful of the four conventional principles of Western bioethics (the others being beneficence, benevolence and justice). It is rarely trumped by other ethical considerations such as an individual's personal responsibility, collective duties or even by the utilitarian maximization of the overall happiness or utility of a society. The new biotechnology has set the concept of autonomy in a new context challenging our traditional views on rights, responsibilities and humanity as a whole.

Key concepts

  • The concept of autonomy is one of the main conventional principles in bioethics.
  • The new scientific developments challenge our traditional views on autonomy, rights and responsibilities.
  • The concept of humanity is challenged by the new biotechnology.
  • Bioethics studies provide normative guidelines which sometimes appear value neutral.
  • Negative and positive rights are both central in policy considerations related to the development and use of new biotechnology.

Keywords: autonomy; responsibility; reproductive genetics; rights; duties

 References
    book Buchanan A, Brock D, Daniels N and Wikler D (2000) From Chance to Choice: Genetics and Justice. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
    Frimbong-Mansoh A (2008) Culture and voluntary informed consent in African health care systems. Developing World Bioethics 8(2): 104–114.
    book Glover J (2006) Choosing Children: The Ethical Dilemmas of Genetic Intervention. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press.
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    book Harris J (2007) Enhancing Evolution: The Ethical Case for Making People Better. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
    Hellsten S (2008) Global Bioethics: Utopia or Reality? Developing World Bioethics 8(2): 70–81.
    book Kass L (2002) Life, Liberty and the Defence of Dignity: The Challenge for Bioethics. Encounter Books.
    book Kuczewski M (1997) Fragmentation and Consensus: Communitarian and Casuist Bioethics. Washington, DC: George Washington University Press.
    book Sandel M (2007) The Case Against Perfection: Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
    book Wikler D (1999) "Can we learn from eugenics"? In: Thompson A and Chadwick R (eds) Genetic Information: Acquisition, Access, and Control. New York, NY: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Press.
 Further Reading
    book Burley J (ed.) (1999) The Genetic Revolution and Human Rights. The Oxford Amnesty Lectures. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
    book Childress J and Beauchamp T (1979) Principles of Biomedical Ethics, 4th edn. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
    book Donchin A and Purdy L (1999) Embodying Bioethics: Recent Feminist Advances. Oxford, UK: Rowman & Littlefield.
    book Hartman B (1995) Reproductive Rights and Wrongs: The Global Politics of Population Control. Boston, MA: South End Press.
    book Habermas J (2003) The Future of Human Nature. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press.
    book Pence G (1998) Who is Afraid of Human Cloning? Oxford, UK: Rowman & Littlefield.
    book Wolf S (1996) Feminism and Bioethics. Beyond Reproduction. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Related Sub-Topics:

Techniques and Tools in Clinical Genetics | General Genetics and Disease | Bioethics
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Article Title: Autonomy and Responsibility in Reproductive Genetics
 
How to Cite close
Hellsten, Sirkku K(Sep 2009) Autonomy and Responsibility in Reproductive Genetics. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0005898.pub2]