Ethical Base of Artificial Reproductive Medicine

Principles of the modern bioethics and the ethical status of the fetus are interpreted in this article. The modern bioethics is based on the three basic ethical principles reported in Belmont report. The principles consist of respect for persons, beneficence and justice. Respect for persons was considered to be the most important principle and have the priority among the principles. However some ethicist dissent from the priority of respect for persons. When we face a case in which the principles conflict each other, the top priority needs to be granted to one of the principles. How we select one of the principles for the top priority remains an unsolved issue. Considering the ethical status of the fetus, the most important thing is when the embryo or fetus becomes a person. Roman Catholic declared in 1974 that the embryo just after fertilization is considered as a person. However many bio-ethicists believe that only an autonomous person who is an individual capable of deliberation about personal goals, and of acting under the direction of such deliberation has the right of living. This opinion permits us not only to abort fetus artificially but also to kill infants. In the latter half of the article personal opinion on the ethical status of the fetus is explained.