CON: Deciding what to do with the left over embryos produced from in virto fertilization.
What is the issue couples have with deciding the fate of their embryos?
When couples decide to have in vitro fertilization many of them don't exactly think about what they will do with the leftover embryos produced from the procedure, most just think about being able to have a child. At first many couples would keep the embryos frozen if they planned on using them at a later time, or if not they would just dispose of the embryos. This was fine untill someone arised the issue of when life actually begins, and if doing something so simple as dispoing of the unwanted embryos was killing a human life. This starts a huge controversy over the "right" thing to do with the leftover embryos produced from something so beneficial to couples who are unable to have children, IVF. The main issue is deciding when life begins, and when it is or is not right to terminate it. This issue would be considered a con to reproductive technologies because it is a difficult decission parents have to make after having such an advanced procedure done to allow them to have children. (Mundy, 2006)
What options are available to parents?
Couples who have IVF have the responsiblity of deciding the future for their leftover embryos produced. Here are the five choices it comes down to: Use them, donate them to science for research, donate them to another infertile couple, have them kept frozen, or dispose of them either by just throwing them away or have a proper funeral for them. Many couples who planned on disposing the embryos before treatment, decided to either use them or donate them after their treatment was finished. " seventy-one percent of couples change their minds about what to do with their leftover embryos."(Mundy,2006) Although these couples have many choices they are not as easy as you would think, each choice has both benefits and disadvantages. Using them would obviously benefit the couple but only untill they have the desired amount of children they wish to have. Donating embryos to science can greatly benefit other people, because the embryos can be turned into stem cells. Keeping embryos frozen only really benefits couples if they plan on using them later on to concive a child, but if not keepig embryos frozen can begin to become costly. Disposing of the embryos has really no benefit, but brings up the issue if your taking a human life. Donating embryos to another infertile couple who may not be able to afford the treatment could benefit hem greatly, but on the other hand the baby would be born with your genetic makeup. These choices all have a lot of thinking that go with them and it's not always easy t make this decision. Many couples are confused yet deeply affected by the responsibility of deciding what to do with their embryos. (Mundy,2006)
Poem of the embryo
Caverned in this small reddish room
I wish I didn’t have to leave.
I curve my back, and press it to the door
Where I once, some other time,
Came in – it’s closed now, but waits awhile –
And the walls seem closer every day
Do you think, will I ever be here again?
I address it to my Mother, she’s warm
She’s all around me now, her thoughts,
Her feelings flush and pulse through me as well.
Most intimately I share her blood,
It flows through her big heart and mine.
The time is come; paroxysm of pain.
The walls, my friends till now, crush in.
Her slender chord seems now an anchor,
And I’m flushed into another day upon
That other world, where people rush
And have forgot their time alone in warmth.
She is here too, but alas! Not so warm now.
I wish I didn’t have to leave.
I curve my back, and press it to the door
Where I once, some other time,
Came in – it’s closed now, but waits awhile –
And the walls seem closer every day
Do you think, will I ever be here again?
I address it to my Mother, she’s warm
She’s all around me now, her thoughts,
Her feelings flush and pulse through me as well.
Most intimately I share her blood,
It flows through her big heart and mine.
The time is come; paroxysm of pain.
The walls, my friends till now, crush in.
Her slender chord seems now an anchor,
And I’m flushed into another day upon
That other world, where people rush
And have forgot their time alone in warmth.
She is here too, but alas! Not so warm now.
Bibliography
Inchiki. (n.d.).
Poem of the embryo. Retrieved from
http://forkword.com/newpoemsA-Z.php?poem=Poem of the Embryo
Mundy, L. M. (2006,
July). Souls on ice. Retrieved from www.motherjones.com
Poem of the embryo. Retrieved from
http://forkword.com/newpoemsA-Z.php?poem=Poem of the Embryo
Mundy, L. M. (2006,
July). Souls on ice. Retrieved from www.motherjones.com