Topic 29 Childlessness and IVF Flashcards
outline non religious views on childlessness
- having a child is a human right and thus ppl turn to medical techniques eg ivf to be able to have a child
- just as you go to dr to fix a medical problem, should be given assistance if medically can’t have a child
- some argie however that childlessness is just something that the person should accept and IVF could actually lead to over population in country
outline christian views about childlessness
- it’s god’s will and should be accepted, in 1 Sam 1 ‘the Lord had closed her womb’ -> thus wrong to use IVF as interferes w God’s plan (Ecc 3 ‘a time to be born and a time to die’)
- children are a blessing and gift from god, not a right or commodity -> psalm 127 ‘sons are a heritage from the lord, children a reward from him’, thus RCC might argue that childlessness should be accepted as god’s will, although children should be prayed for like Hannah in 1 Sam 1
- liberals would argue we shld use god given rationality to end suffering of childlessness by developing medical techniques -> the bible predates the development of IVF etc so not good source of authority for determining views, should interpret it to mean that IVF is a way in which god can bless ppl w a child (CofE)
outline non religious views on deciding not to have children
- children interfere w career and desire to focus more on progression in chosen profession
- no obligation to have children and is a matter of choice that no one has right to judge ppl on
- in an unstable situation eg finanically, mentally, medically or abusing drugs/alcohol
Outline christian views on deciding not to have children
- rcc -> wrong for catholic couple to deliberately not want to have children -> if willing to have sex shld be willing to have kids, as natural law states that purpose of sex is reproduction, and genesis be fruitful and multiply -> rcc wedding service asks if couple are willing to accept kids as gift from god, and artificial contraception not allowed means that couples should not choose to be childless (exception of monks and priests who choose to dedicate lives to god rather than have human relationship)
- CofE -> more open, expectation to fall in line w biblical model, but recognised that careers and financial pressures can lead some couples to not want to (recognise trends in society) -> problems if one partner wants children, in this instance christians say it’s important to show compassion and respect each other’s views and come to a conclusion together
Explain differing Christian responses to IVF
IVF = where eggs + sperm combined in lab and resulting embryos implanted -> used if woman had blocked fallopian tubes and eggs could not travel naturally to womb
RCC: oppose it, as not using method intended by god -> thus unnatural, and also interfering w God’s plan -> concerned with way sperm is collected as oppose masturbation due to Natural law whereaby purpose of sex = reproduction and masturbation = intrinsic evil -> some embryos made and not implanted so RC consider this murder as life begins at conception
Protestants: in favour, using god given intelligence to heal, just as Jesus did to those who were suffering and vulnerable, eg the haemoragging woman -> use of technology is a demonstration of agape love providing couples w children, as one of purposes of marriage is children -> baby made from egg and sperm of husband and wife so it is biological offspring of parents, discarded embryos not foetuses and destruction can be justified via doctrine of double effect (intention is to produce children for childless couples not to kill embryos)
Explain differing christian responses to AIH
AIH-> artificial insemination by husband -> husband’s sperm collected and placed in uterus, used if man has low sperm count
RCC-> oppose, involves masturbation which is an unnatural act, and the third party of drs adds to this -> husband and wife should be ‘one flesh’ as described in bible
Protestants -> accepting, technology = gift from god for couple having trouble w conceiving
Explain differing Christian responses to AID
AID = artificial insemination by donor -> same as AIH but donor sperm is used if man does not have viable sperm, or if lesbian couple wishes to conceive
RCC-> adultery as third person involved in making of baby -> unnatural and involves masturbation, opposed for lesbians as do not accept same sex relationships
Protestants -> some concerned about potential pyschological problems for child if biologically related to one parent, and inclusion of donor could make non bio father feel inferior -> realtionship. problems within marriage -> on other hand, donation = loving act and gift from god
Explain differing Christian responses to AID
AID = artificial insemination by donor -> same as AIH but donor sperm is used if man does not have viable sperm, or if lesbian couple wishes to conceive
RCC-> adultery as third person involved in making of baby -> unnatural and involves masturbation, opposed for lesbians as do not accept same sex relationships
Protestants -> some concerned about potential pyschological problems for child if biologically related to one parent, and inclusion of donor could make non bio father feel inferior -> realtionship. problems within marriage -> on other hand, donation = loving act and gift from god
explain differing christian responses to surrogacy
surrogacy -> another woman gives birth to baby which is given to parents, could be artificially inseminated and act as an egg donor, or, unrelated to baby, could be used by a woman who cannot get pregnant eg had hysterectomy or homosexual couple
RCC-> against, unnatural for woman to carry a child not their own and method to getting pregnant unnatural, destroys sacred nature of marriage bonod between man and wife -> against homosexual couples having it, should be brought up by a mother and father not two fathers which is unnatural and immoral
protestants-> some consider it altruistic act by woman and gift of god, others consider issues that arise eg feelings of inferioirty by couple, child scarred not born from parents naturally, or prospect that surrogate might wish to keep child
non religious views on infertility treatments
- 12.5% of couples in UK have fertility issues, and IVF birth rates were 3 times t
