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J Med Ethics 2004;30:510-512 doi:10.1136/jme.2002.001891
  • Reproduction

There is a difference between selecting a deaf embryo and deafening a hearing child

  1. M Häyry
  1. Correspondence to:
 M Häyry
 Centre for Professional Ethics, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK; mhayryuclan.ac.uk
  • Received 21 September 2002
  • Accepted 30 May 2003
  • Revised 14 January 2003

Abstract

If genetic diagnosis and preimplantation selection could be employed to produce deaf children, would it be acceptable for deaf parents to do so? Some say no, because there is no moral difference between selecting a deaf embryo and deafening a hearing child, and because it would be wrong to deafen infants. It is argued in this paper, however, that this view is untenable. There are differences between the two activities, and it is perfectly possible to condone genetic selection for deafness while condemning attempts to deafen infants at birth.

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