From: Jeff Davis (jrd1415@yahoo.com)
Date: Fri Jan 03 2003 - 01:14:17 MST
Extropes,
--- Lee Daniel Crocker <lee@piclab.com> wrote:
> > (Hal Finney <hal@finney.org>):
> >
> > It will be tragic if the cloned children suffer
> from medical problems.
> > But we don't stop people with hereditary illnesses
> from having children,
> > and their kids also face an increased risk of
> problems.
>
> Actually, there is an emerging body of civil law in
> "wrongful birth"
> suits. They're not yet common, but some courts have
> recognized the
> basic principle that parents have an ethical duty to
> minimize the
> possibility of creating a child who will suffer from
> their negligence.
>
I'm all for stem cell research, and any embryo or
early-fetus cloning associated therewith, but I don't
see reproductive cloning of a human as justifiable
until it is at least as safe as natural reproduction.
When germline engineering and/or cloning become
distincly safer, then it will be interesting to see
how the 'naturalists' justify continuing with the
'unsafe' natural methods. Kind of like the Christian
Scientists depriving their children of lifesaving
medical techniques.
For the Raelians, I'm thinkin' a criminal charge of
"reckless endangerment/disregard for human life",
independent of the condition of the child, based on
problems observed in non-human cloning. Plus an
accompanying civil suit for support and medical care
for the lifetime of the child, plus punitive damages.
Clonaid is probably a separate legal entity from the
Raelians, so the criminal and civil actions should
charge both, as co-defendants. Everything depends on
the jurisdiction. Since the reports indicate the
Raelian 'clinic' is in South Korea, it would help to
know something about South Korean law.
Also I want to go on the record as thinking the
Raelian claim is a hoax. They said they would prove
their claim in eight days or so. I predict some
excuse--safety or privacy concerns of mother or child,
perhaps--precluding the Raelians from providing the
evidence. Then they will continue with the claims and
continue with the excuses.
Finally Dr. Antonori, or someone else will succeed and
provide proof, and the Raelians will fade from the
spotlight.
I think the Raelians are announcing now solely to cash
in on the immense publicity. They heard Antonori say
he would have a human clone by January, and they
didn't want the non-entity status that goes with
coming in second.
That's my guess.
Best, Jeff Davis
"Everything's hard till you know how to do it."
Ray Charles
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