Explain the Ethical Considerations for each of the examples below relating to IVF
Explanation. Provide your own thoughts on each topic below.
When does the concept of a ‘person’
begin?
Historically speaking a human was only
considered a person after birth. As science
advanced, there was a push to agree that
personhood arose at conception. A more
conservative view is that up to 14 days
after conception cells lack differentiation
and therefore has no identity or
personhood.
Consent of all parties
As fertilisation occurs outside the body, it
is possible that consent may not have been
granted by one or more persons involved.
Sperm or Ova could have been collected
for other investigative or diagnostic
purposes then used of IVF without that
person’s permission.
Q. Does the donor party still own their
genetic material?
Q. What implication does this have for
egg/sperm donation and surrogacy?
Storage and Fate of Surplus Embryos
During egg harvest a number of Ova are
taken. During IVF multiple eggs will be
fertilised but not all of them will be
implanted.
Q. What should happen to these embryos?
Q. Is it considered murder should they be
destroyed?
Q. Should all embryos have the chance at
life? Either be implanted into the mother
or given to another couple to use??
Parental Motivation - Gender
Are the parents unable to have children
naturally and are seeking help to do so? Or
are they hoping to pick the characteristics
of their child.
Q. Should couples be able to decide the
gender of their child?
Q. China used to have a one-child policy.
Couples would often have a gender
preference for boys. There were a number
of orphanages for abandoned girls. IVF
gender selection may have decreased the
rate of abandoned baby girls.
Parental Motivation – Health
Perhaps one or both of the parents have a
genetic medical condition which could be
passed on to the child, eg. Cystic Fibrosis.
Q. Should parents be able to use IVF to
select embryos without the disease.
Q. What should happen to the embryos
which have the disease?
Q. What about selecting for general
health? Should parents be able to select
for athletic ability, strength, height? Etc.
Parental Motivation – Designer Babies
The concept of beauty, height and success
are often tied together in many cultures.
Q. Should parents, who just want the best
for their offspring, be able to select
embryos based on characteristics such as
eye colour, hair colour, skin colour etc if
the technology was available?
Q. Should parents be able to alter the DNA
of their offspring? In 2018 twins were born
in China after a researcher had altered
their DNA with CRISPR technology. He did
it to help stop the babies from getting HIV
from their father. What if they had used
the technology to give the babies super
strength instead?
Natural Selection Perspective
Recent investigation has suggested that
children conceived through assisted
reproductive technology like IVF may have
increased health risks after birth and as an
adult. Examples:
- Cardiovascular (heart) disease
- Insulin resistance (leads to
diabetes)
- Development of mild to severe
cognitive impairment
- Infertility, also require ARTs
Q. In natural fertilisation the successful
sperm is considered to be the ‘best’. IVF
does not necessarily select the strongest
sperm. Should parents be concerned about
the increased risks?
IVF a religious perspective
Traditional Christian view – starting at
conception, the embryo has moral status
as a human therefore IVF is forbidden.
Islam – Can be used but only for a husband
and wife, must be married.
Judaism – Talmud, soul enters the embryo
40 days after conception and there is an
obligation to be fruitful and multiply. IVF is
obligatory when medically needed.
Q. Some Christians think IVF is okay if you
only fertilise one egg at a time and implant
it so there is no wastage. What do you
think?