Does Human cloning violate Human Right?

Human Cloning and its Types

Human cloning is a process of making an identical copy of the original organism. The word clone means that the molecule of cells with genetically identical structure. It is the process of reproduction of Human cells and tissues. It does not include the natural conception and delivery of identical twins. This is also known as Artificial Human cloning. Many of the countries do not allow this practice and completely ban it on the basis that human cloning is against morals and ethics.

There are mainly two types of Human cloning.

1. Therapeutic cloning- It is done to grow stem cells from the embryonic clone.
2. Embryonic stem- cells or reproductive cloning – It is done to replicate a human to his or her offsprings who exactly resembles his or her patent.

Problems by Human Cloning that violates Human Rights

The ethical problems caused by human cloning are:

1. The problem of safety-  There can never be any certainty that up to    what extend Human cloning is a safe process. It includes immense risk not just to the clone-to-be but also to the birth mother and the women who her egg. As we know about Dolly, a clone ship survived only for six years because the medical practitioner has used the genome of a six-year-old. Cloning replicates the original organism so, there are high chances of transmission of diseases of the original. Thus it is not a safe process.

2. The problem related to consent– The concept of consent raised a big question on human cloning. To obtain the consent of the clone child – to – be is next to impossible because an unborn child cannot give his or her consent. It is true that no one consents to his or her birth but here the situation is different. There are various threats and risk of harm is present in cloning which can affect the life of the clone- to- be. The clone development practicers cannot that the consent of an unconceived clone, so they shift the burden on the cloners. The cloners would be must know that they are putting a newly created life into great danger and risk. It is morally and ethically questionable and is against Human rights. The human being does not grant one the right to maim or harm that human being in research.

3. The exploitation of Women and distribution of risk–  In the process of cloning the women who would be called to donate oocytes may get exploited either physical or mentally. Cloning requires a large number of eggs. In the case of an animal, there is a requirement of several thousands of eggs for a single attempt at cloning. These eggs can be acquired through donations only but the process includes hormonal treatment to maximize the ovulation. This is very harmful to the women’s body who agrees to donate her eggs. In order to earn money, poor women or low-income women are more likely to risk there life to make donations. If human cloning can be possible then it definitely will become another reason for the exploitation of women.

Advantages of Human Cloning

• 1. The doctors can make tissues and organs with the process of Cloning which can be used in surgery and organ failures.
  2. With the help of cloning, we can bring back the extinct species and cloning livestock.
  3. If human cloning is possible than the doctors can clone the parts of body and organ which are required and not cloning the entire person. In this way, the morals and ethics cannot be tempered.

Disadvantages of Human Cloning

• 1. The genetic defeats of the original organism will also be transferred to the clone as it is the copy of the original.
  2. There are the high chances of transmission of disease to the clone if the original organism has the disease.
  3. Cloning itself has many side effects. It can harm the body and health of the individual as there will be excessive use of medicine.
  4. It is against the morals and ethics of the society. This practice is not excepted by many of the religions.

Conclusion

If in near future Human Cloning is possible then it will be violating the Human Rights of the clone-to-be who’s life is at great risk,  all the women who get exploited during the process of donations of eggs and the women who give birth to the clone child. The prime motive of Human rights is to protect the rights of the vulnerable and weaker sections of the society but human cloning is tempering this right. Thus, Human cloning shall not be practiced.

About the author –
This article is authored by Ishita Jain, 3rd year B.com LL.B student at Banasthali Vidyapith Rajasthan