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Ethics, Science and Moral Philosophy of Assisted Human Reproduction (Volume 10, supplement 1, 2005)

Choosing children: intergenerational justice? 

L Doyal1,3, S McLean2
1Professor of Medical Ethics, Barts and the London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London, UK
2School of Law, University of Glasgow, 5-9 Stair Building, The Square, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
3Correspondence: l.doyal@qmul.ac.uk

In this discussion, we argue that the concept of intergenerational justice, usually used in environmental matters, is applicable to reproductive decisions also. Additionally, we propose that this permits certain reproductive choices to be made prior to conception or during the pregnancy, and that these choices should not be confined to clinical concerns. In particular, we argue that consideration of the interests of future children should be viewed from the perspective of objective wellbeing. That being the case, decisions about the sex of future offspring can, in terms of intergenerational justice, be legitimate. We do not argue that every reproductive choice is legitimate; for example it would not be legitimate deliberately to choose characteristics that prevent future children from potentially successful participation in social life.

Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2005 Vol. 10, suppl. 1, 119–124

Keywords: future generations, human rights, objective well being, regulation, reproductive choice, sex selection