Question

It is 2020 and the market for babies on demand is growing. This market allows couples to design their babies to specification in terms of race, hair color, eye color, potential IQ and other factors using altered donations of sperm and ova from the parents or from donor parents. The price structure for this product includes a basic fee and additional charges depending on the level of customization and donor type. The success rates for babies on demand have been high. However, now that this service has been available for five years, the companies providing the service are beginning to get customer complaints. It seems the designer children have not always lived up to their purchase price because some of them were not exceptional in the areas that the parents purchased. Children have been returned and demands for full refunds have been requested by the attorneys representing the purchasing parents.

1. How would Rawls respond to the situation presented here? Would it be ethical according to Rawls?

2. How would Mill respond to the situation presented here? Would it be ethical according to Mill?

3. How does this business affect the ethical dynamics of the family as described by Callahan?

4. Did this business meet the ethics standard discussed in Callahan’s chapter? Why or why not?

Answer 1

1. How would Rawls respond to the situation presented here? Would it be ethical according to Rawls?

Rawls theory of Justice is a work of political philosophy and ethics by John Rawls. The problem of distributive justice is a variant of the familiar device of the social contract. In his theory, the social justice is limited only by the notion that the liberty of any one member shall not infringe upon that of any other member. The second aspect is social or economic inequalities are only to be allowed if the worst off will be better off than they might be under an equal distribution. The final point of Rawls is if there is such a beneficial inequality, this inequality should not make it harder for those without resources to occupy positions of power.

The genetically engineered children will be suffered in this condition. Rawls theory will not support it.

2. How would Mill respond to the situation presented here? Would it be ethical according to Mill?

Mills theory is based on the moral code of a society in better accordance with the principle of utility. The needs of the parents can be met by the genetically engineered children and Mill’s theory supports the aspect of genetic engineering.

3. How does this business affect the ethical dynamics of the family as described by Callahan?

Unknown risks to vulnerable lives of children without their consent

Extension of adoption as new technologies

Psychological relationships are disrupted by the third party involvement

Satisfy parents desires

An issue of identity and integrity

4. Did this business meet the ethics standard discussed in Callahan’s chapter? Why or why not?

The business proposes a threat to the genetically engineered child’s identity, for the sake of desires of the parents. The consent of the children is not in the process. The concept of a biological gift of child is also violated in genetic engineering as the child is considered as a commodity.