Centre for Research Ethics & Bioethics (CRB)

Ethics at the Beginning of Life

Ethics at the Beginning of Life, 2003

The V Annual Swedish Symposium on Biomedicine, Ethics and Society was held on June 2-3 in Sandhamn.

Cosmopolitan Conceptions: genetics, identity and social placement.

Professor Erica Haimes
 Sociology and Social Policy
University of Newcastle

Abstract of keynote lecture

Assisted conception provides many possibilities for the creation of much-desired children who might otherwise not exist. However, the processes of assisted conception, such as gamete and embryo donation and surrogacy, also create situations where the 'appropriate' parentage (genetic, legal, social) and family placement of those children, is hotly disputed.This paper examines, through a number of case studies, the social processes whereby children conceived through assisted conception are located in and attached to families, and identifies the variability with which such cases are resolved.

Organizers

The Vth annual Swedish symposium on Biomedicine, Ethics and Society was organized with financial support from the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (ELSA program), the Foundation for Health Care and Allergy Research, Ethics in Health Care Programme and the Swedish Research Council.

More information:

Centre for Research Ethics and Bioethics
Uppsala Science Park
SE-751 85 Uppsala
Fax +46 18 50 64 04

Josepine Fernow, Co-ordinator, josepine.fernow@crb.uu.se
Associate Professor Anna T. Höglundl, anna.hoglund@crb.uu.se

Biomedicine, Ethics and Society
Keynote speakers

Lars Hamberger, professor and chief physician in obstetrics and gynaecology, Gothenburg University and Sahlgrenska Hospital, is well known for his pioneering work within assisted conception in Sweden and stem cell research.

Marjo-Riitta Järvelin, professor at the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial College, London, is head of several population-based longitudinal studies of prenatal factors in relation to childhood and adult diseases.

Karen Lebacqz, professor of Theological Ethics, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, California, is the author of six books and numerous other publications related to bioethics, including issues concerning reproduction and children

Erica Haimes, professor of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Newcastle, is concerned with the sociology of childhood with special focus on issues of identity for those brought up by non-genetically related parent(s).

Biomedicine, Ethics and Society