Planned orphanhood

Medical technology, which today makes it possible to bear a child after dea th, enables planned orphanhood. The first part of this paper will discuss t he medical innovations in human conception, the psyche-social aspects of th e wish for children from the genes of someone who is no longer alive, and t he ensuing orphanhood and its implications. The second part will discuss th e ethical issues relating to planned orphanhood: Who are involved in the ma tter of planned orphanhood? Is the decision to produce a planned orphan a p rivate or public matter? Whose responsibility is the birth and bringing up of the planned orphan? To whom does society have more responsibility the ch ildren who already exist or future children? And can planned orphanhood be regarded as a justification for wrongful conception? The last part of the p aper will examine the judicial aspects of planned orphanhood in Israel and elsewhere and discuss the application of the principles of human dignity, h uman welfare, and justice. The paper argues for discouraging planned orphan hood so as to avoid violating the principles of human dignity and liberty, human welfare, and human justice, from the perspectives of both those who a re involved in the process in general and the orphan who is the target of t he medical intervention in particular. Its aim is to encourage deep and com prehensive public discussion of this issue in all its aspects. (C) 1999 Els evier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.