National and global bans on reproductive human cloning
National and global bans on inheritable genetic
modification
Effective, accountable regulation of all other technologies
of human genetic modification
If we are to prevent an escalating and potentially catastrophic spiral of human genetic modification, we will need global bans on both reproductive human cloning and inheritable genetic modification.
The bans need to be global to prevent the establishment of eugenic tourism.
Further, the bans need to be intended to be permanent. Of course, we can't bind the actions of our descendants, and if they wish to repeal these bans they can. But we have the responsibility to make a clear statement, as the human community at this point in history, that we consider human reproductive cloning and inheritable genetic modification to be profoundly unacceptable. These policies are an affirmation among the several generations alive today that we will work to build a human future in which human cloning and germline engineering do not occur.
We believe that this policy package is practicable and can attract wide support. All three policies are already in force in at least several countries. Our challenge is to extend them worldwide.
The work needed to achieve national and global bans on human cloning and inheritable genetic modification and to ensure adequate regulation of other genetic technologies is considerable. It is imperative that national and world leaders affirm the need for such policies now and set the procedures in motion for arriving at legislation and other agreements in these regards.
It will be far easier to avoid a descent into a techno-eugenic future if we act before reproductive human cloning and inheritable genetic modification are developed any further, as techniques, as ideology, or as market goods.
Related Articles
"Health and Human Rights Leaders Call for International Ban
on Cloning and Species-Altering Procedures," Genetic
Crossroads (#20, October 3, 2001)
Newsletter
>> Archive >> Issue 20
George Annas, Lori Andrews, and Rosario Isasi, "Protecting
the Endangered Human: Toward an International Treaty Prohibiting
Cloning and Inheritable Alterations," American Journal of Law
& Medicine (Vol. 28, Nos. 2 & 3, 2002) pages
151-178
Resources
>> Items >> "Protecting the Endangered Human"
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