Re: [asa] The unexpected burden of IVF

Christine, you ask some really interesting questions. I'm not sure there's
one simple response from a Christian ethical perspective. Personally,
though, I do think the IVF industry is a problematic one, not least because
it leads to these problems with frozen embryos, but also because there's a
potential for taking advantage of couples who are in an emotionally
difficult stage. Perhaps there is something to the notion that sometimes
trusting God's plans over something like a pregnancy means being willing to
accept not becoming pregnant if the only option is to create extra embryos
that will never be implanted. I realize this is easy for me to say, since I
haven't been in that particular position. However, like most people, there
have been times when I've had to learn to be willing to forgo something
because of moral hazards or other costs. And like many people, there have
been times when I've realized, in retrospect, that God didn't let me have
something I wanted because he had something better in mind.

On 9/6/07, Christine Smith <christine_mb_smith@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Although I didn't have the time to read all of it,
> what I read was very interesting! Thanks for posting
> it!
>
> I want to present a question which is indirectly
> related to this topic--the question of whether or not
> IVF in and of itself is ethical from a Christian point
> of view (apart from the final destination of the
> unused embryos)? Here's my line of thought on this...
>
> I have volunteered with many animal rescue groups over
> the course of my life in order to save homeless pets
> from being killed at the pounds (FYI--in case you're
> not aware, that number is in the millions/year).
> Generally speaking, I consider the practice of
> breeders bringing yet more animals into the world to
> be wrong, because they only exasperate the problem of
> homeless pets, resulting in greater animal suffering
> and higher kill rates. I'm of the opinion that those
> who wish to adopt an animal should do so from a rescue
> group, pound, etc, so that those animals already
> living and in need may be cared for and loved.
>
> I use this as an illustration, not to equate animal
> life with human life (because they're not equal), nor
> do I wish to open up a debate about animal breeding;
> rather, my question is this: considering that there
> are thousands, perhaps millions of children waiting to
> be adopted, is it consistent with Christian ethics for
> parents to go out of their way to create biological
> offspring rather than open their homes to orphans or
> other children already in existence, that are in need?
> Is infertility perhaps a "sign" from God that His will
> is for parents to have children through adoption
> rather than the "natural" way?
>
> Though my own personal leanings are to favor such a
> view, I hesitate to think that this is a "Christian
> ethic" for all. Any thoughts?
>
> Christine
>
>
> --- drsyme@cablespeed.com wrote:
>
>
> ---------------------------------
>
> In looking up something for the "worthy response"
> thread. I came across this article.
>
> http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2006/07/souls_on_ice.html
>
> There are several interesting points in this article.
> First of all they estimate that there are 500,000
> embryos in cryo storage without any clear destination.
>
> Second, I am impressed with how much these parents
> struggle with the issue of these frozen embryos, and
> what to do with them. If there are so many people
> that think of these embryo's as human, that gives some
> weight to David O's view that because they are
> potentially people they are people. (And even though
> I find it interesting it is not enough to convince me
> that David's position is correct.)
>
> Third, I expect someone to mention Nazi medical
> experiments with this comment, but if the embryos are
> there, and they are just going to be destroyed, why
> shouldnt we use them for stem cell research, even if
> one thinks that they are fully human?
>
>
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Received on Thu Sep 6 22:21:08 2007