Use Of Embryos - Reproductive

Question 1

Reproductive Use of Embryos - KU

Answer 1

• In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is a medical process that creates an embryo outside of the body.
• This technique is often used by people who cannot conceive a child naturally.
• There are quite strict guidelines as to who can go through IVF procedure on the National Health Service (NHS).
  -These guidelines are regulated by an organisation called NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence)
  The NHS highlights six stages to the IVF process:
  1. The natural menstrual cycle is stopped using medication
  2. Egg supply is boosted by using medication to help the ovaries produce more eggs
  3. An ultrasound scan is used to monitor the eggs and check they are maturing, with medication used to help the eggs mature
  4. The eggs are collected from the ovaries
  5. The eggs are fertilised by mixing them with sperm for a few days, this forms the embryo
  6. One or two of the embryos are placed back into the womb

Question 2

Reproductive Use of Embryos - Moral issues raised by IVF; The status of the embryo

Answer 2

• If the embryo is considered a person, then the process of IVF can be questioned as common practise means more embryos are created than are used.
  The Treatment of those leftover embryos from the IVF process raises an ethical question if those embryos are considered to be human beings
• If the embryo is considered a potential human being it becomes harder to judge, from an ethical perspective, how the embryo might be used
• If the embryo is considered as not being a human being then there are less ethical issues raised with how embryos are used, specifically those embryos that are additional to requirements regarding the reproductive process

Question 3

Reproductive Use of Embryos - Moral issues raised by IVF; Leftover embryos

Answer 3

• As eggs are fertilised during the IVF process, there may be many embryos produced.
• It is common practise for one embryo to be implanted, though two embryos may be used (if the patient is slightly older or if there are questions regarding the quality of the embryo)
• This means that there are embryos let over and poses a question as to what should be done with the embryos that are left over.
  Some of the options regarding the embryos are:
• They may be frozen and kept for a later date
• They may be donated to other couples unable to conceive
• They may be donated to scientific or medical research
• They may be destroyed

Question 4

Reproductive Use of Embryos - Moral issues raised by IVF; Interfering with natural processes/playing God

Answer 4

• There are those, usually from religious perspective, who would argue that having children should be a natural process and if you are unable to have a family then you should just accept this.
• IF you start to interfere with this process, then you are playing God.
• Others argue that God may have given his creation the wisdom and intellect as human beings to be able to advance the human race in this way, whilst others see God as irrelevant in the discussion as God doesn’t exist and it is up to humanity to use reason and science to advance medicine in a way that will benefit us

Question 5

Reproductive Use of Embryos - Moral issues raised by IVF; Eugenics/Slippery Slope

Answer 5

• Eugenics is when desirable or favourable traits in offspring are selected, so that they, or indeed future races, have an improved genetic composition
• MEdically, on the NHS, IVF is not used to control human reproduction so that certain types of preferred people are being bred
• However, there is an argument that creating embryos outside the womb could open the door to greater experimentation which may have concerning morally questionable implications regarding what traits an individual could be born with

Question 6

Reproductive use of embryos - Religious responses raised by IVF; made in Gods image

Answer 6

• Most Christian’s believe that God is the creator of life and has created humanity in His image, and to reflect his character
• This natural and divine process could be seen to contrast with the medical process of IVF because IVF gives medical professionals the power to create life
• Other Christian’s might respond that being made in gods image means that w hav been made as thinking beings and given wisdom to be able to support and sustain life.
• IVF is our way of using the intellect God has given us

Question 7

Reproductive use of embryos - Religious responses raised by IVF; Life is wonderfully made and a gift from God

Answer 7

• A passage from the Bible explains that when an embryo is created it is wonderfully made by GOd in the womb
• THe process of IVF allows a specialist to grade the embryos and choose which ones they think are most viable and best quality
• For some Christian’s, IVF turns that natural process of creation into a medical procedure, and it also seems to value some embryos more than others

Question 8

Reproductive use of embryos - Religious responses raised by IVF; Thou Shall Not Kill

Answer 8

• As many Christians believe that life begins at conception, embryos should be considered human beings
• Therefore,destroying leftover embryos or using them as research purposes would be in direct opposition to Gods command not to kill

Question 9

Reproductive use of embryos - Non-Religious responses raised by IVF; Humanists, Utilitarians

Answer 9

• From a non-religious viewpoint, IVF is seen as a medical intervention that helps those struggling with infertility to have children
• Humanists believe firmly in using reason and science to bring about benefits to humanity
• Utilitarians may believe that, when it comes to IVF, enabling those who struggle to have children to overcome those barriers medically will bring the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people
• Many would argue that allowing IVF protects human rights (such as the right to have a family) and allows greater autonomy, which ultimately promotes happiness across most of society.
• Like many secular scientists, Eugenie Smith is of the opinion that embryos cannot be considered people
• If we consider this viewpoint against many o the moral issues that are raised by IVF, then it would appear that most secular scientists should have no problem with IVF because of their response on the status of the embryo and leftover embryos

Question 10

Reproductive USe of Embryos - Quotes

Answer 10

‘Made in Gods Image. The pinnacle of Gods creation.’ - Genesis 1
This means being made in GOds image means that humans reflect Gods character, identity and meaning come from GOd

‘Thou shall not kill’ - Exodus 20
This means that God gives a divine command not to kill. This iss very straightforward humans should not take another human life

“If a Zygote is just a cell, and cells die regularly, then the answer to whether it is ethically permissible to destroy it is yes’.