1.Present the problem i.A couple has decided to go through the expensive process of IVF. To accompany the monetary cost, there is also the possible hazards present in the fertility drugs. Karen T goes through the uncomfortable surgery and seven eggs are successfully fertilized with Roger T’s sperm. Four were frozen and three were implanted; non survives so they tried implanting another three. Concerned about the risks of fertility drugs, the risks and discomfort of the egg-recovery process, and the overall expense of the procedure, the couple is now reluctant to start another course of IVF. Instead they propose that the final egg be thawed an split into four, having two implanted now, and two implanted in a couple of years if the first attempt is successful.
Morally relevant facts i.In the process of IVF many embryos do not survive. ii.The mother is subject to discomfort and risks when eggs are recovered. iii.Embryo splitting is morally questionable especially as an adjunct to IVF and embryo transfer. iv.There could be genetically identical children of different ages.
Options Option 1: The doctor goes through with splitting the embryo and attempts implantation again with two of the resulting embryos and freezing the other two.
Option 2: The doctor decides he does not feel comfortable performing the embryo splitting and recommends they ask another doctor to help them who may see it as morally acceptable.
Option 3: The doctor and couple sit down and explore other fertilization options and see if there is any other way to go about them having children. If an alternative is not reached, then refer to the options above.
Questions a.Should Dr. T act in accordance with the wishes of the couple? b.Is embryo splitting morally defensible as an adjunct to IVF and embryo transfer? c.Is embryo splitting and delyed twinning less morally problematic than cloning via somatic cell nuclear transfer.
I do not agree with splitting an embryo to be able to implant twice. I find that we should not interfere with the natural process of reproduction. Identical twins created naturally may have seem similar, their personalities are different. My dad is considered a mirror identical twin. My dad is left handed and my uncle is right. There is also the possibility for these types of twins internal organs to be opposite from ours. When splitting an embryo there is a risk toward that life. What gives us the right to manipulate nature?
The problem is you could ask "what gives us a right to manipulate nature" about ANYTHING. What gives us a right to do heart surgery? I think its strange and a comment on where society is today that there is such a desperate demand for children that are biologically related to you. People are willing to pay any amount of money, stretch science to its limits to produce offspring that are genetically related to them. People don't seem to be happy with just adopting anymore. It's like a second-rate option.
I would never do it myself, but I don't see the problem with them splitting the embryo because it doesn't seem morally reprehensible to do so. If they want another child and it is scientifically possible to have another child or attempt to, and they have the money to pay for it, they should be able to try to have as many children as they want as long as they can adequately care for them. Leaving natural processes alone is very difficult to justify as a whole when discussing medicine, especially when discussing assisted reproduction. IVF interferes with natural processes, but I am not against that, so I don't believe I can be against splitting embryos.
I think that the parents splitting the embryo's could potentially view it as a chance to 'fix' the latter child. For them to re-do everything that they did with the first child but in the way that they want it to turn out. I think that the first child will be put aside and the parents will focus on the second one because it is like a second chance at making that child everything that the first one wasn't. This is just one example of something that could happen with embryo splitting, however there are so many more reasons not to do it. It is wrong and shouldn't be done.
I think splitting an embryo is wrong. I do not feel as if we have the right to interfere with the natural process of reproduction. I think the risks of potentially splitting an embryo is dangerous and can have alternative affects creating more harm than good.
1.Present the problem
ReplyDeletei.A couple has decided to go through the expensive process of IVF. To accompany the monetary cost, there is also the possible hazards present in the fertility drugs. Karen T goes through the uncomfortable surgery and seven eggs are successfully fertilized with Roger T’s sperm. Four were frozen and three were implanted; non survives so they tried implanting another three. Concerned about the risks of fertility drugs, the risks and discomfort of the egg-recovery process, and the overall expense of the procedure, the couple is now reluctant to start another course of IVF. Instead they propose that the final egg be thawed an split into four, having two implanted now, and two implanted in a couple of years if the first attempt is successful.
Morally relevant facts
i.In the process of IVF many embryos do not survive.
ii.The mother is subject to discomfort and risks when eggs are recovered.
iii.Embryo splitting is morally questionable especially as an adjunct to IVF and embryo transfer.
iv.There could be genetically identical children of different ages.
Options
Option 1: The doctor goes through with splitting the embryo and attempts implantation again with two of the resulting embryos and freezing the other two.
Option 2: The doctor decides he does not feel comfortable performing the embryo splitting and recommends they ask another doctor to help them who may see it as morally acceptable.
Option 3: The doctor and couple sit down and explore other fertilization options and see if there is any other way to go about them having children. If an alternative is not reached, then refer to the options above.
Questions
a.Should Dr. T act in accordance with the wishes of the couple?
b.Is embryo splitting morally defensible as an adjunct to IVF and embryo transfer?
c.Is embryo splitting and delyed twinning less morally problematic than cloning via somatic cell nuclear transfer.
I do not agree with splitting an embryo to be able to implant twice. I find that we should not interfere with the natural process of reproduction. Identical twins created naturally may have seem similar, their personalities are different. My dad is considered a mirror identical twin. My dad is left handed and my uncle is right. There is also the possibility for these types of twins internal organs to be opposite from ours. When splitting an embryo there is a risk toward that life. What gives us the right to manipulate nature?
ReplyDeleteThe problem is you could ask "what gives us a right to manipulate nature" about ANYTHING. What gives us a right to do heart surgery? I think its strange and a comment on where society is today that there is such a desperate demand for children that are biologically related to you. People are willing to pay any amount of money, stretch science to its limits to produce offspring that are genetically related to them. People don't seem to be happy with just adopting anymore. It's like a second-rate option.
DeleteI would never do it myself, but I don't see the problem with them splitting the embryo because it doesn't seem morally reprehensible to do so. If they want another child and it is scientifically possible to have another child or attempt to, and they have the money to pay for it, they should be able to try to have as many children as they want as long as they can adequately care for them. Leaving natural processes alone is very difficult to justify as a whole when discussing medicine, especially when discussing assisted reproduction. IVF interferes with natural processes, but I am not against that, so I don't believe I can be against splitting embryos.
ReplyDeleteI think that the parents splitting the embryo's could potentially view it as a chance to 'fix' the latter child. For them to re-do everything that they did with the first child but in the way that they want it to turn out. I think that the first child will be put aside and the parents will focus on the second one because it is like a second chance at making that child everything that the first one wasn't. This is just one example of something that could happen with embryo splitting, however there are so many more reasons not to do it. It is wrong and shouldn't be done.
ReplyDeleteI think splitting an embryo is wrong. I do not feel as if we have the right to interfere with the natural process of reproduction. I think the risks of potentially splitting an embryo is dangerous and can have alternative affects creating more harm than good.
ReplyDelete