Making Ethical Decisions: Human Cloning Presented By: Amy Storozuk Donnie Jordan Renee Love Jennell Birdsong Erika Dato

Step 1: Identify the Ethical Dilemma Is it ethical, to attempt to clone a human, for the purposes of medical technology?

Step 2: What are the Facts? The first “successful” attempt at cloning, was Dolly the Sheep (7/5/96 – 2/14/03), in Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, Scotland. It took over 200 attempts to clone her Cloning is no where near perfected Actual age of the clone versus the Genetic Age Rampant diseases in the sheep, was cloning to blame? Arthritis, Lung Disease. Many other mammals have been cloned since Dolly: horses, bulls, dogs.

Step 3: Who are the Stakeholders? The Patient – Including the clone and the patient that the clone will be implanted to. The Doctor / Scientist – Those doing the procedure and giving the proof that it could be safe. The General Public – The many people who could be impacted from having a clone in their lives. The Government – Today’s leaders have the responsibility of stopping it, if its dangerous or allowing it, the outcome could effect how the “people” perceive the government’s good judgment.

Step 4: What are the Options? The options are to clone and have defected children that may die at an early age or to have children naturally. Science may improve with technology and mankind may give birth to healthier babies, but until that happens, it is safer not to clone so the children will live longer lives.

Step 5: What Should I Do? Human cloning should not be practiced Make a choice/decision Human cloning should not be practiced Human cloning in the sense of “reproductive cloning” (use of cloning techniques to have a child) This excludes the question of whether stem cells from cloned human embryos should be used for therapeutic and pharmaceutical purposes Raises question of whether cloning should be limited Magney, A. (2003). Cloning Me, Cloning You: Reflections on the Ethics of Cloning for Individuals, Families and Society . Social Alternatives , 22 (1), 19-26

Step 5: What Should I Do? Continued President Obama signed a proclamation last month that closes the door for cloning for human “reproduction.” The controversy is that the policy still allows for human embryonic stem cell research. One argument is that human cloning at any degree is still human reproduction. Jeffrey, T. P. (2009, March 16). Obama Carefully Crafts Cynical Cloning Contradiction. Human Events , 65 (10). Munro, N. (2009). No End To Cloning Debate. National Journal , 27.

Step 6: Is it Justified? NO, human cloning is not justified! The consequences of human cloning that support this choice are: Clones could have under developed organs and reduced immunity to infection Disorders in clones could also be delayed until later in life Lawsuits could follow a failed expectation of the clone The clone could face numerous social challenges and will have a reduced life expectancy Based on the utilitarian theory of considering the consequences of actions, human cloning can not be justified because the consequences far outweigh the benefits.

Step 7: How can it be Prevented? The decision that generates the greatest benefit to the most people is the choice that is ethically correct. In order to prevent the ethical dilemma of human cloning from occurring again, human cloning for any purpose should be banned and enforced by government agencies at the federal and state levels within the United States.

References "Cloning Fact Sheet." 16 Sept. 2008. U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research <http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis>. Jeffrey, T. P. (2009, March 16). Obama Carefully Crafts Cynical Cloning Contradiction. Human Events , 65 (10). Magney, A. (2003). Cloning Me, Cloning You: Reflections on the Ethics of Cloning for Individuals, Families and Society . Social Alternatives , 22 (1), 19-26. Munro, N. (2009). No End To Cloning Debate. National Journal , 27. Shuster, E. (2003). Human Cloning: Category, Dignity, and the Role of Bioethics. Bioethics , 17 (5-6), 517-525.