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Would it be ethical?

Would it be ethical?

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To set up an experiment to see if we could reproduce in space? I'm talking about human reproduction here.

It could give us an incredible amount of insight into our own bodies, and how our reproduction system reacts in space.

But it could also lead to serious complications, for the woman, and the baby.

What do you think?
 
If the woman volunteers and the infant is euthanized immediately, I'd have no ethical problem with it. I am pretty sure that most anyone else would, though.
 
What exactly is there to learn about from zero-g pregnancy? I can think a lot more immediately life saving information I'd go for if I was going to delve into morally questionable experiments. I'd also be much comfortable ethically speaking experimenting on someone who was able to consent to the choice rather than bringing a child into the mix.
 
Your Star said:
To set up an experiment to see if we could reproduce in space? I'm talking about human reproduction here.

It could give us an incredible amount of insight into our own bodies, and how our reproduction system reacts in space.

But it could also lead to serious complications, for the woman, and the baby.

What do you think?
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And what if the guy fell out too early and it got all over the electronics? I wouldn't want to lose a space station over jizz.
 
Viktyr Korimir said:
If the woman volunteers and the infant is euthanized immediately, I'd have no ethical problem with it. I am pretty sure that most anyone else would, though.
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The possibility of having to 'euthanize' a baby would be a strong argument against such an experiment.
 
Your Star said:
To set up an experiment to see if we could reproduce in space? I'm talking about human reproduction here.

It could give us an incredible amount of insight into our own bodies, and how our reproduction system reacts in space.

But it could also lead to serious complications, for the woman, and the baby.

What do you think?
Click to expand...

I would have to say it depends.If they did a bunch of successful tests on different animals first before doing trying it out on humans then yes it would be ethical. If they did not do any testing on animals or the tests on animals were mostly failures then yes it would be unethical to test the effects of zero gravity on human pregnancy.
 
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Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
 
Your Star said:
To set up an experiment to see if we could reproduce in space? I'm talking about human reproduction here.

It could give us an incredible amount of insight into our own bodies, and how our reproduction system reacts in space.

But it could also lead to serious complications, for the woman, and the baby.

What do you think?
Click to expand...

Ethical - yes.

Purposeful - no.
 
liblady said:
opposite for me...unethical but might serve a purpose.
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Hmm - well I was starting to explain why I thought it would be ethical. . . but then I realied I was violating rules #2 and #5 as far as the business ethics standards go - so no . .. not ethical if I do so :)
 
I agree with jamesrage in respect to prior testing with animals. That would go a long way toward finding and preparing for potential problems.

If mankind ever establishes colonies in weightless space, I suspect the experimentation will occur whether it is sanctioned or not...but I don't think, at this point, we need to push it.
 
Ethical for me includes: Is spending money on space reproduction an ethical expenditure? Even if they used an mammal that essentially duplicated the human mechanisms, it would be unethical.
 
i fail to see what would be an ethical violation of such effort

would someone please point out to me the ethical concerns
 
justabubba said:
i fail to see what would be an ethical violation of such effort

would someone please point out to me the ethical concerns
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You are having a woman go through her pregnancy in space without access to a hospital or sufficient medical care. We don't know how a zero gravity environment would impact the mother or the child. If there are issues with the delivery the mother and child are both at an increased risk of mortality. If the child is born with a complication they also do not have access to medical care.
 
rathi said:
What exactly is there to learn about from zero-g pregnancy? I can think a lot more immediately life saving information I'd go for if I was going to delve into morally questionable experiments. I'd also be much comfortable ethically speaking experimenting on someone who was able to consent to the choice rather than bringing a child into the mix.
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Long term space travel.
 
digsbe said:
You are having a woman go through her pregnancy in space without access to a hospital or sufficient medical care. We don't know how a zero gravity environment would impact the mother or the child. If there are issues with the delivery the mother and child are both at an increased risk of mortality. If the child is born with a complication they also do not have access to medical care.
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are you saying this effort could not be attempted with a medical practitioner along?
 
Sure, why not? As long as she is given all the information we have about what could happen to her, and the possibilities for this child. I'm sure the same trepidation was felt before the first test tube baby, and all sorts of other advances.

But we probably ought to send monkeys to test this out first first.
 
Your Star said:
To set up an experiment to see if we could reproduce in space? I'm talking about human reproduction here.

It could give us an incredible amount of insight into our own bodies, and how our reproduction system reacts in space.

But it could also lead to serious complications, for the woman, and the baby.

What do you think?
Click to expand...

First you have to actually be able to have sex in space in order to procreate. And yes we should definitely find out since humanities future is dependent on space exploration. This world has a finite amount of useable resources, which means we are going to have to find ways of replenishing them. Space is the obvious choice.

Edit: Meant to add a link...Outer-space sex carries complications
 
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I dont see the point. Based on where we are at as a human species...
 
OhIsee.Then said:
Ethical for me includes: Is spending money on space reproduction an ethical expenditure? Even if they used an mammal that essentially duplicated the human mechanisms, it would be unethical.
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Money has got to be the worst reason to not do research.
 
digsbe said:
You are having a woman go through her pregnancy in space without access to a hospital or sufficient medical care. We don't know how a zero gravity environment would impact the mother or the child. If there are issues with the delivery the mother and child are both at an increased risk of mortality. If the child is born with a complication they also do not have access to medical care.
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One of the ways that astronauts train for space walks is to put themselves in an environment that simulates weightlessness. One of the ways that this is done is by submerging themselves in water. While not many pregnant women deliver babies in water there are those that do. It is apparently helpful for the babies. Now I'm not saying that the two are exactly the same but there are similarities and may be worth looking at further.
 
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