ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the Code of Practice to draw heavily on the discussion of John Polkinghorne, chairman of the Foetuses and Foetal Material Code (FFMC). The chapter discusses the main concerns of the FFMC, and explains the most obvious problem being the FFMC's definition of moral status. It argues that the moral status of the embryo is much less than the moral status of a near-term foetus. The chapter considers what arguments might be used to justify the position taken by the FFMC. It also argues that the consent of the mother is required for the use of any foetal tissue, for the decision to abort is not a decision to abrogate responsibility for the foetus, but rather to accept moral responsibility through abortion. The chapter suggests that any foetus that is suitable to become an organ donor has already reached a stage of development where its moral status is sufficient to prevent its being killed.
