Verified Document

Assisted Reproductive Technologies Science Has Term Paper

Women are subjected to a wide range of drugs which have harmful side effects. Some drugs induced to facilitate ovulation have also caused infertility in the male child. When women are put through the consumption of such drugs, the chances of multiple births increases, thus the woman gives birth to twins, triplets or even more. In 2000, 53% of infants born through ART were multiple births, compared to 3% of births in the general population. The twin rate was 22 times higher than the general population; the triplet and higher multiples rate was 50 times higher. Their higher risk for birth defects and low birth weight add to already over-burdened health care costs." (Marie Anderson and John Bruchalski)

Many couples cannot afford to bring up more than one child at a time and hence in the case of multiple pregnancies, couples are often given the option of reduction. This puts the couple under psychological distress. Here they have spent so much money to acquire a baby that they have wanted for so long and now one of their babies will be killed. Not only that, it also increases the risks of affecting the pregnancy. Further multiple pregnancies can also be life threatening to the mother and increases the chances of fetal abnormalities. Such occurrences can lead to severe psychological conditions and be stressful for the couple.

CONCLUSION

My view about the act of utilizing assisted reproductive techniques is that they should be limited to some form of techniques and others should be abolished and banned. In the gender screening techniques, like the case studied above one can only imagine the psychological impact on the three sons. If not all three then at least on of them would think that their mother discriminates between their children and her true happiness lies in having a daughter and not a son. Further, discarding embryos of undesired sex is outright wrong and I consider it no less than murder. Humans are beginning to disrespect nature's gift and discarding off what they don't want and trying to get what they do want. I see man...

Such people who wish to have just a particular sex of the baby are practicing a new level of discrimination. Moreover in my view if an infertile couple opts for techniques where the embryo is the result of their own genetic material then that should be allowed. Using genetic material of anyone else would make him or her, the biological father or mother and couples should aim that their child even if a result of assisted techniques should be their biological child as well. Hence in conclusion I would like to say that the idea of donating ovum or sperms should not be practiced as besides the ethical reasons, donating ovum can also be harmful for the woman.
References

1) Tomorrow's Child - Plot Synopsis [online website] Available at http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/35838/plot.jhtml[Accessed on: 07/09/2005]

2) Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Instruction on respect for human life in its origin and on the dignity of procreation: replies to certain questions of the day (22 February 1987), Vatican City.

3) Steinbock B. Life before birth: the moral and legal status of embryos and fetuses. New York, Oxford University Press, 1992. Pages: 59-71.

4) Claudia Kalb with Karen Springen - "Brave New Babies" [online website] Available at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3990134/site/newsweek/[Accessed on 07/09/2005]

5) McAllister J., Ethics with special application to the medical and nursing professions, 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Saunders, 1955. Page: 223.

6) The Women's Health Council - "Position Paper on Assisted Human Reproduction: The Health and Social Implications for Women" [online website] Available at http://www.whc.ie/publications/position_reprod.html[Accessed on: 07/09/2005]

7) Marie Anderson and John Bruchalski - Assisted Reproductive Technologies are Anti-Woman [online website] Available at http://www.nccbuscc.org/prolife/programs/rlp/04anderson.htm[Accessed on: 07/09/2005]

Sources used in this document:
References

1) Tomorrow's Child - Plot Synopsis [online website] Available at http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/35838/plot.jhtml[Accessed on: 07/09/2005]

2) Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Instruction on respect for human life in its origin and on the dignity of procreation: replies to certain questions of the day (22 February 1987), Vatican City.

3) Steinbock B. Life before birth: the moral and legal status of embryos and fetuses. New York, Oxford University Press, 1992. Pages: 59-71.

4) Claudia Kalb with Karen Springen - "Brave New Babies" [online website] Available at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3990134/site/newsweek/[Accessed on 07/09/2005]
6) The Women's Health Council - "Position Paper on Assisted Human Reproduction: The Health and Social Implications for Women" [online website] Available at http://www.whc.ie/publications/position_reprod.html[Accessed on: 07/09/2005]
7) Marie Anderson and John Bruchalski - Assisted Reproductive Technologies are Anti-Woman [online website] Available at http://www.nccbuscc.org/prolife/programs/rlp/04anderson.htm[Accessed on: 07/09/2005]
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Science Marches Forward, Reproductive Cloning of Humans
Words: 1138 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

science marches forward, reproductive cloning of humans will likely become a reality. It has already been accomplished with dogs, cats, cows and monkeys. This means that one day a person will be able to have a child with his/her own cells. What do you think some of the family law issues will be as this form of alternative reproduction becomes a reality? As soon as Dr. Ian Wilmut made a

1950s to Scientific Technology of
Words: 1839 Length: 7 Document Type: Term Paper

Study Limitations. There is no doubt that the issue of stem cell research and cloning carries with it scientific obligations, moral concerns, and future possibilities (Robertson, 2000). However, authors such as Rosenthal and Lanza have managed to put the issue squarely where it belong at this juncture, namely, controlled empirical investigative research. The authors, although, thorough in their presentation, did little to encourage the on-going process of stem cell research

Ethical and Moral Considerations Related to in Vitro Fertilization...
Words: 3271 Length: 8 Document Type: Term Paper

In Vitro Fertilization This is a paper that outlines the morality issue behind in vitro fertilization. It has 12 sources. As scientific progress advances more rapidly than the ability of mankind to assimilate and comprehend its influence on life concerns, fields such as Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) are turning heretofore basic issues like procreation into complex ethical and moral dilemmas. In 1978, with the birth of Louise Brown, the first child conceived through

Personhood Debate Vs. IVF in
Words: 2253 Length: 7 Document Type: Research Paper

Additionally, the utilitarian position presents the advantage of objectively quantifying the interests of everyone affected by the decision, for the sole purpose of promoting common welfare. Thus, harvesting, fertilizing, genetically screening, implanting and researching human embryos at the risk of damaging or destroying them - is entirely justified from this perspective, and any progressive endeavor is encouraged. Nevertheless, this approach might involuntarily discourage many IVF clients as it appears to

Foundationally Promising Research Discoveries of
Words: 5874 Length: 20 Document Type: Term Paper

For some the issue then arises when the pluripotent cells are removed from the blastocyst, as this very act negates the ability for the cell group to develop into a human being. "Note that the process of changing from totipotent to pluripotent to multipotent cells is not reversible -- that is, pluripotent stem cells do not produce totipotent stem cells, and multipotent stem cells do not produce pluripotent stem cells." Borror,

Childhood Any Less Safe and Enjoyable Now
Words: 2270 Length: 8 Document Type: Term Paper

childhood any less safe and enjoyable now than in the past? Childhood is a period that initiates a change in the perspective of the family or the parents involved. It entails the aspect of responsibilities and commitments for the parent to ensure safe and secure parenting for the child. However, concerns continue to arise due to the dynamic nature of the society. The society keeps on evolving, changing various aspects

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now