Chapter 6
SIDEBAR6.3
Ethical Dilemmas in Reproductive Technology
Itisfundamentaltodecidewhenhumanlifebeginsinordertoformconsistentopinionsonethical
issuessuchasabortion,cloning,IVF,prenataldiagnosis(PND)andpreimplantationgeneticdiagnosis
(PGD). In all of these, it is the status of the human embryo that is really at stake. If life begins at
conception,thentheembryodeservesalltherightsofpersonhood.Cantheembryohavetheserights
withoutusurpingthemother’sorfather’srights?
Diseasewasnotpartof God’soriginalplan.Diseaseisaconsequenceof thefallof manwhensin
enteredintotheworld.Preimplantationgeneticdiagnosis(PGD)involvestestingthegeneticmaterial
ofembryostolookforspecificgeneticmutationsorchromosomalrearrangements.Itisgenerallyused
bypatientswhoknowtheyareatriskoftransmittingageneticdiseaseorchromosomalabnormality
totheiroffspring.Bytestingafertilizedeggpriortoimplantation,modernsciencecannoweliminate
theriskofanembryohavingcertaingeneticdiseaseusingPGDandIVF.Theconcernnow,however,
is that the technique might be used to select characteristics that range from less serious disease to
purelymattersof preference,suchasgender(TheEthics,2008).
BothIVFandovulationinductionusingdrugsresultinhighernumbersofmultiplebirths(more
thantwobabies). Theyhavebothallowedmanycouplestobecomeparentsof theirownbiological
children that otherwise may have been impossible. This presents several dilemmas not the least of
which is, ‘are we playing God?’. Should medical technology be used to assist couples to become
pregnant?Shouldtherebeanagelimit?IVFisconsiderablymoreexpensivethanovulationinduction
so there is a high push for success.With the economic factors and the push for success,should the
numberofembryosimplantedintheuterusberestricted?Bywhom?Ifitisdeterminedthatthereis
amultiplebirthpregnancy,shouldthepregnancybeabortedandstartover?Shoulditbeallowedto
continuedespitethehighriskofcomplicationsforthebabies?Shouldsomeofthebabiesbeselectively
abortedtoallowtheothersabetterchanceof survival?(MultifetalPregnancy,2007)
CurrentIVFproceduresoftenresultincreationofmoreembryosthancanbesafelytransplanted
into a woman’s uterus. There is much current debate about what to do with these embryos. For
instance,canorshouldtheybedestroyed? Whoownstherightstotheembryosinthecaseof death
ordivorce?Whatrightsdoallpartieshaveif theembryosaredonatedtoanonrelativeorunknown
recipient? This also brings up the idea of embryonic stem cell research. The implantation of
embryonicstemcellspromisesthepossibilityof curesfordiseasesandeveninjuriesinthefuture.Is
itmoralorethicaltousethesefertilizedembryosthatwouldotherwisebedestroyedforthiskindof
research?What if this research leads to medical advances that could revolutionize the treatment of
diseases,injuries,and aging? How would you regulate the research so that embryos were not being
boughtandsold?(UsingPreimplantation,2006)
The use of prenatal diagnosis (PND) may be less controversial but nevertheless holds ethical
questions.Ifageneticproblemisfoundduringanamniocentesis(atestoftheamnioticfluidobtained
by inserting a needle into the uterus), should an abortion be allowed, encouraged or denied? For
parents,thediagnosisofgeneticproblemsoftenoccursinthesecondtrimestersoadecisiontoabort
would involve a late-term abortion. Should late-term abortions be legal in these situations? Who
shoulddecideif anabortioncanorshouldbeperformed?(DiagnosingBirthDefects,2005)
Ethicalissuesthatarisesurroundingreproductivetechnologyischallengingforeveryone.These
are only a few of the dilemmas.Do you think these issues are resolvable?Who do you think should
havethefinalsay?Shouldtherulesapplytoeveryone?