Conversation Starter: In Vitro Fertilization

The United States House of Representatives has just passed a bill which would loosen restrictions on the use of human embryos in stem cell research. The bill will soon be considered by the Senate. President Bush has said he would veto any such bill, and it is doubtful the bill has enough support to override his veto.

The argument for this use of human embryos usually goes something like this: The embryos that would be used are already slated for disposal. If they are to be destroyed anyway, why not use them for research that has great potential to alleviate human suffering? Advocates of embryonic stem cell research often point to specific diseases and injuries which might be cured by therapies resulting from embryonic stem cells.

Those opposed to the use of embryos in research point out that non-embryonic stem cells, which are harvested without harm to any person, have actually proved to be more promising in research than embryonic stem cells, and so the claims of greater potential for embryonic stem cells is just conjecture unsubstantiated by evidence. They also argue that even if embryonic stem cells could be used for therapies, it is still unethical to sacrifice one human life to benefit another.

The argument that these embryos are slated for disposal brings up a question as to why this is the case. In the United States there is very little regulation on the process of in vitro fertilization. Since it is more cost effective to produce a large number of embryos and then select the most promising one(s) to implant, this is the process most US clinics use.

Other nations, however, regulate the process. In Italy and Germany, for example, all embryos must be implanted rather than stored long-term, so fewer embryos are produced. In Italy it is not permissible to conduct genetic testing to screen out the embryos of the handicapped. As a result of these regulations, there are not large numbers of embryos in storage, slated for disposal, as in the USA. (I heard on television recently that in Germany there are about forty embryos in storage nationwide, and all of those are the result of the unexpected death of the mother before the implantation could take place.) However, as a result of these regulations, infertile couples may face a much longer and expensive process, fraught with disappointments, before an embryo is successfully implanted.

So the discussion starter question for today is this: What kind of regulation of the in vitro fertilization process would you consider reasonable and favor for adoption in your country? Be sure to tell us why.

Comments

[Charles]

It is interesting that people excuse invitro, as if disposing of human life to create human life should be acceptable so therefore it is ok, even amongst some who claim a biblical worldview. I disagree as you do. It is closely aligned with using human embryos for research; their suggestion is that creating a life with invitro, though disposes of other lives, is none the less one fertilized egg that would never have had a chance to live otherwise. Should that life have been created in the first place if its creation is contingent upon the deaths of others? It is startling that Europe would lead the way on this issue with regards to their regulations which are more stringent than our own. Invitro appears to be big business in America and I can not help but wonder if that plays a major role in our current policy.

[Abraham Lincoln]

I say go for it and make Bush continue to look like an idiot.

[cwv warrior]

Dory,
The lack of interest here would indicate Nancy Pearcey is right on. Many Christians don't get involved and apply their worldview to their lives outside the family. It is only thanks to Dr. Dobson that we even do that! As you might notice, I never commented either : ( Invitro is embedded like common law marriage. We won't be regulating it any time soon. if and when it happens, there should be a one per one law. It is hideous how we disregard the value of human life.
It will be a great accomplishment if the stem cell research can be stopped on embryos. The research shows successful application of stem cells involves those from adults. Embryos are batting zero!

[Stuart DiNenno]

Dory asked: "What kind of regulation of the in vitro fertilization process would you consider reasonable and favor for adoption in your country?"

I think that this sort of tampering with human reproduction is despicable. But as a Christian, I think that it is my responsibility to regulate my own behavior in accordance with scriptural precepts and to try to lead others down the same path. I don't concern myself with trying to regulate the behavior of entire nations (which largely consist of unbelievers or nominal Christians) by getting involved in the legal or political processes.

[Alison]

The really frustrating thing about this to me is, in hospitals across our country, cord blood, which is chock full of stem cells, is either being discarded as medical waste or being banked by the wealthy in order to treat some diseased family history. Cord blood, however, typically can not be used to treat someone in the same family because the disease is often genetically passed down. But, it can be donated and used for others. WHY oh WHY is no one passing regulations on cord blood? It should be harvested at every healthy live vaginal birth. It seems, though, that most people don't know about it and those that do, think that you can only bank it for thousands of dollars. I agree with you, though, it is a sign of our depravity as a nation to dispose of human life as though it were yesterday's newspaper. It is easy for me to pass judgement, though, because I have never had a fertility problem. But I believe Christians are treading a fine line when partaking in IVF and should be extremely careful and prayerful when considering how many eggs are harvested and the plans for any extra embryos. I believe that ALL of the embryos, regardless of quality should be treated as though they were the best quality. Transferring the lesser quality ones to a mother without the hormone therapy necessary to facilitate their implantation is no better than discarding them. The are simply discarded from a uterus instead of a petri dish. Be careful infertile believers. Ends do not justify means.

[Sharon Simons]

I also went through IVF. I miscarried my twin boys that I had through IVF but I found my boys through International Adoption. Every Mom has a Journey towards becoming a Mom at Last. If that journey took you through Surrogacy, Adoption, or In-Vitro Fertilization, Mom at Last is the place to find information, success stories, & inspirational quotes. Visit our Mom Community today at http://www.MomatLast.com Every Mom has a Journey...so let's connect & celebrate it!