Are saviour siblings a humane and proper use of reproductive technology?
by Tim Harrison [from Mill Hill Essays 2008, ISBN 0-9546302-4-6] Civilisation and technology proceed hand in hand, but with the technology comes the need to exercise responsibility. The technique of in vitro fertilisation for humans was developed in the United Kingdom by Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards. The first “test-tube baby”, Louise Brown, was born in Oldham, England, as a result on July 25th, 1978, sparking a wave of debate throughout the world. Technology has progressed further now, with the ability to execute pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) on embryos. This has made possible the idea of “saviour siblings”. Currently, in the UK, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) are called upon to decide whether or not to allow the creation of “saviour siblings” and they have developed guidelines that help them decide when the technology should be used. A “saviour sibling” is defined as any offspring conceived in vitro to increase the chances of survival or qual
