BIOETHICAL/LEGAL ISSUES IN THE NEWS
(Concluded)
FETAL RIGHTS IN RESEARCH
In a similar vein, fetal tissue transplants may become effective in treating diabetes,
Parkinson's disease, leukemia, and quadriplegia. The University of Minnesota Center
for Bioethics reported on the findings of 25 scientists and ethicists who met on the issue
for nearly 2 years. The report concludes that, without suitable controls and definitions,
babies could be conceived, and then aborted as medicine for others. If fetal tissue is
part of the mother, she could give prior permission for its use. If the fetus is a dead
individual, permission must be obtained from close relatives.4
RIGHT TO DIE
The Supreme Court ruled that a patient's wish to terminate life-sustaining care should
be honored, provided clear supporting evidence, for example, a living will, existed. The
Court initially denied Nancy Cruzan's parents the right to terminate life support after an
auto accident that left her in a coma for years for lack of such supporting evidence.5
RIGHT TO TREATMENT/LIFE
Tom Bradley, a 46-year-old AIDS patient, took The Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Insurance Company to court for refusing to pay for a bone marrow transplant that could
prolong his life. The Manhattan State Supreme Court ruled in his favor.6
FETAL RIGHTS
After failed attempts to locate a bone marrow donor for their 17-year-old daughter
suffering from leukemia, a Los Angeles couple purposely conceived a child to serve as
a donor. (While it has been done before, this is the first time that the parents chose to
speak openly about it.) The ethical concern here is protecting the rights of the fetus.
What it tests revealed the baby was not a suitable donor? What if the parents aborted
that fetus in order to retry? Should an outside legal guardian serve as an advocate for
the infant in such cases? The infant, in this case, turned out to be a suitable donor.3
AUTONOMY
The Supreme Court limited the autonomous decision making of pregnant teenagers by
ruling that states may require the girl to notify her parents or to get a judge's permission
before she an abortion .7
CHILD'S RIGHT TO TREATMENT VS. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
A Christian Scientist couple, David and Ginger Twitchell, shunned medical treatment for
their ailing toddler who died of bowl obstruction They were convicted of manslaughter.8
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