Himmel Wolfgang, Michelmann Hans Wilhelm
Department of General Practice, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Reprod Biomed Online. 2007 Sep;15 Suppl 1:18-24. doi: 10.1016/s1472-6483(10)60354-9.
New assisted reproduction technologies provide access to, and require the handling of, genetic material. Such material includes gametes or early-stage embryos. After a selective appraisal of some of the most relevant developments facilitated by the access to germ cells and embryos, this paper identifies some major ethical challenges created by the assisted reproduction technologies, with a special focus on Germany. The rapid progress in medical technology makes it difficult to prohibit or allow assisted reproduction technologies on the basis of such traditional criteria as the protection of human life, medical indications or a preference to adhere to natural processes. Instead, a more open discussion and a flexible application of ethical principles may be more helpful, such as: (i) considering DNA as a biological data file which allows potential access to a person's biography or identity; (ii) reconciling the protection of the early embryo with patients' needs; and (iii) placing both the mother and her embryo at the centre of bioethical and legal considerations, instead of exclusively relying on ethical principles and expert opinions with regard to the embryo alone. To continue the success of assisted reproduction, more attention should be given to the 'lifeworld' philosophy, as some authors have put it.
新的辅助生殖技术涉及获取和处理遗传物质。此类物质包括配子或早期胚胎。在对获取生殖细胞和胚胎所带来的一些最相关进展进行了选择性评估之后，本文确定了辅助生殖技术所带来的一些主要伦理挑战，特别聚焦于德国。医疗技术的快速发展使得难以基于保护人类生命、医学指征或倾向于遵循自然过程等传统标准来禁止或允许辅助生殖技术。相反，进行更开放的讨论并灵活应用伦理原则可能更有帮助，例如：（i）将DNA视为一份生物数据文件，它可能使人得以了解一个人的经历或身份；（ii）协调对早期胚胎的保护与患者的需求；以及（iii）将母亲及其胚胎置于生物伦理和法律考量的中心，而不是仅仅依赖关于胚胎的伦理原则和专家意见。正如一些作者所说，为了延续辅助生殖的成功，应更多地关注“生活世界”哲学。
