The United Kingdom parliament made history in 2015 when they voted to allow the use of mitochondrial (mtDNA) replacement techniques. Mitochondrial diseases are genetically inherited and currently, the only known cure is replacement therapies. However, most other countries have been slow to adopt policy changes that allow for mtDNA replacement due to the ethical challenges of the techniques. While there are ethical challenges concerning mtDNA replacement, there is a need to address these challenges and allow these techniques in the US to provide treatment for individuals affected. This paper first addresses mitochondrial diseases and replacement techniques currently used and analyzes ethical challenges related to the interventions, such as safety, efficacy, and contributed genetic material from three individuals. This paper then addresses how the ethical principles, beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy and justice support mtDNA replacement. Suggestions on how the US can allow mtDNA replacement by adopting similar policy changes to the UK are provided, as well as additional measures to protect patients. Given the rate of individuals affected, severity of mitochondrial diseases, and lack of treatment options available, it’s important to address how to overcome ethical challenges and policy barriers.

英国议会在 2015 年投票允许使用线粒体 (mtDNA) 替代技术时创造了历史。线粒体疾病是遗传性的，目前唯一已知的治愈方法是替代疗法。然而，由于技术的伦理挑战，大多数其他国家在采用允许 mtDNA 替代的政策变化方面进展缓慢。虽然在 mtDNA 替换方面存在伦理挑战，但有必要应对这些挑战，并允许这些技术在美国为受影响的个人提供治疗。本文首先讨论了目前使用的线粒体疾病和替代技术，并分析了与干预措施相关的伦理挑战，例如安全性、有效性和来自三个人的遗传材料。然后，本文讨论了伦理原则、善行、非恶意、自主和正义如何支持 mtDNA 替换。提供了关于美国如何通过采用与英国类似的政策变化来允许 mtDNA 替代的建议，以及保护患者的额外措施。鉴于受影响个体的比率、线粒体疾病的严重程度以及缺乏可用的治疗方案，解决如何克服伦理挑战和政策障碍非常重要。