Essay on Ethics of In Vitro Fertilization - 2459 Words

In Vitro Fertilization â€Å"The unexamined life is not worth living.† With these words, Socrates stated the creed of reflective men and women and set the task for ethics: to seek, with the help of reason, a consistent and defensible approach to life and its moral dilemmas (Walters 22). Ethical inquiry is important to us when we are unsure of the direction in which we are heading. â€Å"New philosophy calls all in doubt,† wrote John Donne in the wake of the Copernican Revolution and of Charles I’s violent death, suggesting that new thoughts had challenged old practices (Donne). Today, new practices in the biomedical sciences are challenging old thoughts: â€Å"New medicine calls all in doubt† (Walters 22). Few moral convictions are more deeply†¦show more content†¦Since the study of ethics is all about what is right and what is wrong, it is not possible to come to a correct conclusion unless one is directly appointed by God to make this conclusion. God is the only One who can correctly decree what is ethical and unethical; we as imperfect humans should not even attempt to do this job. IVF raises many of these difficult moral issues. If the above conceptions about the nature of ethics were correct, however, discussion of these issues would either be futile (because morality is a matter of personal choice or opinion) or superfluous (because morality is what a divine or secular authority says it is) (Walters 23). In this paper, I want to suggest that it is not only possible, but also necessary to inquire into the ethics of such practices as IVF because the fact that we can do something does not mean that we ought to do it. To begin with, I will provide the basic medical facts involving IVF to give a solid understanding of what goes into the whole process and what facts involving this process cause the questioning of the ethical and moral issues. Infertility affects about 4.9 million couples in the United States, or one in every twelve. Approximately one-third of infertility cases can be traced to causes in the female (Encarta). However, a small proportion of infertileShow MoreRelatedEmbryonic Stem Cell Research - in Vitro Fertilization1051 Words   |  5 PagesIn vitro fertilization and human embryonic stem cell research are two of the most popular and controversial topics that are being discussed today. Lee Silver, from the film defines in vitro fertilization as: [T]ak[ing] the process of reproduction out of the darkness of the womb, into the light of the laboratory. And all of the sudden you can do anything you want with these human embryos and eggs, which couldn t be done before (Holt). The real question regarding all of the varying opinions andRead MoreEmbryonic Research: A Battle of Fallacies Essay1431 Words   |  6 Pagescounter this widespread problem, we develop reproductive choices. One of the most important choices is in vitro fertilization. Even though this method significantly increases pregnancy rate in infertile women, it comes with the problem. Underlying in vitro fertilization is research on living human embryos. We need to research on countless living embryos in order to develop clinical in vitro fertilization. This stirs public attention on its morality. Society asks: Are we killing thousands of human life whileRead MoreDoes Religion Really Allow Cloning?1228 Words   |  5 Pagesawesome potential in managing the world into a brighter future, where irremediable illnesses can be cured, deficient organs can be supplanted and new limits can be pushed. Regardless of the debates in regards to the ethics and morals of cloning, foundational microorganism research and in vitro preparation, the headway of such medicinal examination exhibits the unlimited conceivable outcomes for humanity that is generally choked by religious confidence and good ambiguities. Like most technology that precedeRead MoreA Experiment On Artificial Fertilization Essay1211 Words   |  5 PagesAnother type of artificial fertilization is in vitro fertilizations. This is a fascinating topic not only in the way that it is done, but also because of the reasoning behind why it is done. The term in vitro means in glass (class discussion). The process of in vitro fertilizations is long and can put strains on the so to be mother. There are several steps involved with created a test tube baby. First the mother to be has to have an injection of a drug to suppress the natural menstrual cycle (NordqvistRead MoreThe Right of Abortion1801 Words   |  7 Pageslab created babies. One such procedure is called in vitro fertilization. Large amount of embryos have either been destroyed or are at a risk of being destroyed because of in vitro fertilization (Templeton 2011). . These early period abortions are not morally tolerable. Regrettably, countless people with good will have no idea of the fact that how many embryos will be either be destroyed or frozen up in the process of in vitro fertilization (Templeton 2011). They simply see the end result: of havingRead MoreFor Thousands Of Years, People Have Questioned If Actions1474 Words   |  6 Pagesmorality are two separate ideas that do not have to be in agreeance with one another. This divide is highlighted in the case of reproductive rights, specifically the moral versus legal value of human embryos. In this paper,the focus is on in vitro fertilization, also known as IVF. While IVF does not involve embryos, many of the arguments made for blastocysts are applicable to embryos. This essay will switch between both of these stages of development. Blastocysts should not have a legal standing becauseRead M oreThe Genetic Modification Of Humans993 Words   |  4 Pagespreventative stand point would necessary. A prime example to use for beneficial genetic modification of humans is in vitro, which is â€Å"the event that occurs outside a living organism or within a laboratory, inside a glass tube with sperm and an egg† (Lapensee). An article written by Ethics Professor from Dartmouth, Ronald M. Green, describes the progressive process of in vitro fertilization using the phrase designer babies. This phrase assists in the explanation of not only for what type of method isRead MoreThe Ethics of Stem Cell Research Essay741 Words   |  3 Pagesresearch, but many are struggling for the continuance of the program. Embryonic stem cell research should be allowed to continue because it aids in the search of cures for diseases, offers an alternative to discarding unused embryos from in vitro fertilization, and is supported by the utilitarian philosophy. According to Charles Krauthammer, The basic research needs to be done and we might as well get started now (2). There are many people in the world, unfortunately, who are stricken withRead MoreArtificial Reproduction Technology1264 Words   |  5 Pagesmeaning from the story of the stork our parents told us while we were young. In this paper I will cover different methods or ART and how they work, and the pros and cons to the method. In vitro fertilization, gestational carriers, and designer gametes are the methods I will be addressing. In vitro fertilization, otherwise known as IVF was developed in 1978 by two doctors; Dr. Edwards, and Dr. Steptoe. Before the woman’s eggs are collected she is received a treatment called ovarian stimulation. NormallyRead MoreIn Vitro Fertilizatio is Helping Couples to have a Baby1901 Words   |  8 Pagescouples. Because of this problem and the growth of technology, human being discovered a new technology and creates a solution for this problem, which called In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). IVF gives a high chance to couples to have a baby. What is the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)? According to the Perla who is the author of â€Å" Is in vitro fertilization for older woman Ethical?† article, the IVF is the process of uniting between sperm and ovum under certain condition in laboratory. This technique is used