Verified Document

In Vitro Fertilization Term Paper

In-Vitro Fertilization One of the most remarkable medical discoveries of the 20th century is in-vitro fertilization, a technique developed and used to conceive a human embryo outside of the mother's body. In-vitro fertilization was originally devised for use in cases of infertility, i.e., where the woman's fallopian tubes were damaged or the man's sperm count was low. However, in recent years, the use of in-vitro fertilization has been expanded to include pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, a process which is designed to create an embryo which is a close genetic match to a sibling who suffers from a rare genetic disorder. In this process, the blood from the umbilical cord of the baby created via in-vitro fertilization may be used to attempt to save the sibling's life. This process was first used in the case of Molly Nash from Colorado, where cord blood from her brother Adam was transplanted into the little girl, who is said to have made a near perfect recover. In addition, a girl was recently born to a British family hoping to treat their older child who has leukemia.

The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) recently granted a British couple permission to use in-vitro fertilization (i.e., pre-implantation genetic diagnosis) to create a test tube baby. What is so controversial about the HFEA's decision is the...

Likewise, this decision is controversial because it marks the first time the HFEA has allowed the use of in-vitro fertilization to pick an embryo which is a close genetic match for a sibling in order to treat him. It is the British couple's hope that in-vitro fertilization will allow them to create a test tube sibling whose blood could cure their son. In this paper, the ethical issues associated with the use of in-vitro fertilization to create "designer" babies will be analyzed and discussed.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION

While there are several compelling arguments in favor of in-virto fertilization (particularly in the case of infertile couples), there are just as many arguments in opposition to the use of in-vitro fertilization and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis in order to attempt to cure or treat genetic disorders in another child. First, using in-vitro fertilization and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis to create a test tube sibling whose umbilical cord blood could cure or treat a genetic disorder which exists in another baby violates the basic principle underlying in-vitro fertilization, i.e., that the process…

Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Vitro' Fertilization Is One of the Applications
Words: 1218 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

Vitro' fertilization is one of the applications of advanced technology that provides a solution to infertility among couples. The practice has long been in existence, and many referred to offspring of couples who have undergone this process, 'test tube babies.' In vitro ('in glass') fertilization is only one of the many treatments for infertility. The general term by which in vitro can be identified is through artificial insemination, wherein semen

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

In Vitro Fertilization Serious Health
Words: 2693 Length: 7 Document Type: Annotated Bibliography

Secondary risk factors are high E2 serum levels or rising levels, more than 20-25 follicles in both ovaries, the number of eggs retrieved, stimulation agents used, hCG administration, and pregnancy. Younger women are more prone to the syndrome as they are more responsive to gonadotropins and have more follicles than older women. Findings suggested that a lower body mass index carries a risk. Women with PCOS are more sensitive

Changes and Challenges Associated With Widespread Use of Designer...
Words: 903 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) In the 1960s, the use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) to help couples conceive children was mired in controversy. Once media events, the birth of test tube babies no longer cause any surprise. For many people, the concept of IVF had become routine. However, recent developments in IVF technology have raised more ethical quandaries. Is it ethical for parents to use IVF technology to conceive and give

In Vitro Fertilization Allows a
Words: 327 Length: 1 Document Type: Term Paper

This might be the case for an idnivdual that suffers from severe mental retardation or some type of brain injury that prohibits the person from making common sense and logical decisions. Why should this person/couple not be allowed IVF? If they don't have the mental capability to care for themselves or make good decisions, they will not be able to make good decisions and care for a baby. Caring

In Vitro Fertilization
Words: 3067 Length: 10 Document Type: Term Paper

In Vitro Fertilization: A Question of Ethical and Spiritual Morality In vitro fertilization is a common reproductive procedure that generally falls under the scope of biotechnology. It is a process that is condemned by the Catholic church and often criticized by lawyers and ethicist despite the number of live births that result from the procedure Despite this condemnation, there are hundreds of thousands of individuals that partake in IVF procedures every year, in

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