Centre for Ethics and Philosophy of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Department of Immunology, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Front Public Health. 2024 Feb 13;12:1243801. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1243801. eCollection 2024.
The possibility of using human cloning to reproduce has been met with unease, shock, and prohibition in many countries, as well as the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology and the World Health Organization. Exploring the value judgments that underpin these and other responses to reproductive human cloning (RHC) was the objective of this study.
In a qualitative design, this study explored values in their variety underpinning responses to RHC by conducting individual semi-structured in-depth interviews among nine scholars who were purposively sampled for contributing various perspectives. Thematic analysis was used to uncover qualitative contents systematically.
Regulation of RHC, the first theme, was valued highly but this should become more sophisticated than plain prohibition and draw on accountable societal engagement that is well-informed by current knowledge and further research, rather than be misled by for example the mistaken assumption that cloned offspring would be exact replicas. The second theme was about potential consequences of RHC for which engagement and regulations should account. It concerns the valuing of the personhood and dignity of offspring from RHC, and averting exploitation and potential unwanted societal consequences. In the third theme, participants valued the individual's freedom to choose and reproduce.
Recognizing the needs among people who cannot reproduce in other ways, the agenda for the societal engagement on RHC suggested by this study is extensive and challenging. It includes that potential consequences should be pre-empted, exploitation of RHC be averted, criteria of acceptability and non-acceptability of using RHC be developed, and the limits to the use of RHC be articulated in accordance with technological constraints and the values, resources and preparedness of societies.
在许多国家，包括国际辅助生殖技术监测委员会和世界卫生组织在内，人类克隆生殖的可能性引发了不安、震惊和禁止。本研究旨在探讨这些和其他对生殖性克隆（RHC）反应背后的价值判断。
采用定性设计，通过对 9 名学者进行个体半结构化深入访谈，探索了 RHC 反应背后的各种价值判断，这些学者是经过有针对性选择的，他们对 RHC 有不同的观点。采用主题分析方法系统地揭示定性内容。
RHC 的监管是第一个主题，被高度重视，但这种监管应该比简单的禁止更加复杂，需要社会参与，而且这种参与应该基于当前的知识和进一步的研究，而不是被错误的假设所误导，例如错误地假设克隆后代会是完全相同的复制品。第二个主题是关于 RHC 的潜在后果，应该对其进行监管和应对。这涉及到对 RHC 后代的人格和尊严的重视，避免剥削和潜在的社会不良后果。在第三个主题中，参与者重视个人选择和生殖的自由。
本研究提出的社会参与 RHC 的议程是广泛而具有挑战性的，因为人们认识到那些无法以其他方式生育的人的需求。这包括预先防范潜在的后果，避免对 RHC 的剥削，制定使用 RHC 的可接受性和不可接受性标准，并根据技术限制、社会的价值观、资源和准备情况，阐明使用 RHC 的限制。
