Transcending Species Boundaries: On the Moral Status of Human-Nonhuman-Animal Chimeras
Open Access
Author:
Laraia, Michelle
Area of Honors:
Bioethics and Medical Humanities
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Michele L Mekel, Thesis Supervisor Jonathan Harold Marks, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Bioethics Moral Status Chimera Speciesism Translational Research
Abstract:
While myriad benefits may be associated with the potential creation of human-nonhuman-animal chimeras (HNHCs) for research purposes, development of and experimentation on such beings triggers numerous ethical concerns. Many trepidations stem from speciesism. However, there are legitimate concerns that call for the assessment and assignment of appropriate moral status. Through this thesis, I argue that the current speciesist reservation of highest-level moral status for humans alone violates the wellbeing protections due HNHCs, as well as other nonhuman animals. In proposing a solution to this ethical gap, I offer a characteristic-based pyramid framework to evaluate and designate various levels of moral status—replacing the current dichotomous approach. This model also incorporates an analysis and appraisal of Type I (i.e., false positive) and Type II (i.e., false negative) errors, and universally defaults, on ethical grounds, to Type I errors. By adopting and applying the proposed model, we can ethically scrutinize the permissibility of developing HNHCs and their use in research.
