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PGD & Ethical Problems

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, or PGD, was developed in the 1990s. PGD is used with in vitro fertilization (IVF), an infertility treatment, to identify genetic or chromosomal abnormalities in eggs or embryos before pregnancy. The creation and use of this screening has created controversy.

  1. Definition

    • PGD uses one cell to examine for genetic/medical problems before pregnancy.

      Leslie A. Pray, Ph.D., specializes in population genetics. She describes PGD as "extracting a single cell from an 8 cell embryo and analyzing the DNA of that single cell for the presence of one or more disease associated genetic alterations."

    Ethical Position

    • Philosophical beliefs about when life is created impact opinions on PGD.

      The question of when life begins has long been a source of ethical debate. People who believe life begins when an embryo is created have ethical concerns about removing a single cell from an embryo.

    Ethical Choices

    • Disposition of embryos/eggs with abnormalities raises ethical concerns.

      A huge ethical concern associated with PGD relates to what happens to the egg or embryo if abnormalities or disease are discovered. The raises an ethical issue: Is it morally right to destroy an egg or embryo if PGD screening determines a serious disease or abnormality exists?

    Success Rates

    • The impact PGD has on pregnancy success rates is debated among experts.

      PGD screening is also done with the goal of improving pregnancy success rates. Dr. Pray, Ph.D., reports some researchers say "data has yet to show that PGD actually improves pregnancy rates or decreases miscarriage rates following IVF."

    Considerations

    • Those for and against PGD are passionate in their beliefs.

      The technological pace that created PGD exceeds the resolution of ethical debates that have evolved from PGD. People facing infertility believe PGD offers invaluable information regarding the health of their unborn children. Others believe PGD represents a tool seeking genetic perfection that should not be used.

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