Ethical and moral issues in IVF hospitals
The IVF hospital is the product of modern medical technology, which has brought hope and joy to many infertile families. However, this medical field also involves a series of ethical and moral issues. This article will elaborate on the ethical and moral issues of IVF hospitals from four aspects.
Ethical issues of embryo screening
A cutting-edge technology has played an important role in IVF hospitals, namely embryo screening. This technology can detect genetic diseases and gene defects carried by embryos, and select healthy embryos for transfer. However, embryo screening has triggered a series of ethical issues.
First, does embryo screening violate the dignity and human rights of embryos? Some people believe that embryos have the starting point of life and should be protected and respected rather than excluded or selected. Secondly, embryo screening has brought about the concern of human eugenics, that is, the pursuit of so-called "ideal" embryos through selective screening may lead to the inequality of dividing human race and social class in the future.
However, embryo screening can also reduce the probability of the birth of people with serious genetic diseases and bring healthy and happy children to families. Therefore, it is necessary to balance the relationship between disease risk and ethical principles when using embryo screening technology.
Multiple births of test tube babies
IVF technology has enabled many couples who cannot conceive naturally to realize their dream of becoming parents, but it has also brought about the problem of multiple births. IVF technology often leads to multiple embryos being transferred, thus increasing the possibility of multiple births.
Multiple pregnancy can increase the health risks of mothers and fetuses, such as premature delivery, low weight and developmental problems. At the same time, multiple births also bring financial and psychological burdens to families. Doctors and ethicists need to balance the wishes of infertile couples and the risk of multiple births, and formulate a more reasonable embryo transfer policy.
On the Ownership of Fertility Right of IVF
IVF technology inevitably involves the issue of the ownership of reproductive rights. In this process, there is the act of donating eggs and sperm to infertile couples, as well as surrogacy and embryo transfer.
First, do donors fully understand and agree to use their germ cells for other people's reproductive purposes? Secondly, how to balance the rights and interests of surrogate mothers and infertile couples in the process of surrogacy? Does the surrogate mother have rights and decision-making ability related to the fetus? These problems need to be carefully considered and solved.
Genetics and Identity of IVF
In vitro baby technology involves combining different genetic materials, which leads to the complexity of children's genetic identity. For example, through eggs or sperm donated by a third party, the genetic relationship between infants and heredity is different.
The complexity of this genetic identity may cause psychological and emotional problems within children and families. When children grow up, they may be curious and confused about their genetic origin. IVF hospitals need to provide adequate psychological counseling and support to couples to help them actively cope with and understand genetic identity issues.
Summary
The ethical and moral issues of IVF hospitals involve embryo screening, multiple births, ownership of reproductive rights and genetic identity. Among them, embryo screening technology has formed a fierce debate between means and ethics. The problem of multiple births involves the balance between the wishes of infertile couples and the risk of multiple births. The balance of rights and interests in the process of donation and surrogacy is also an important ethical issue. In addition, the genetic identity of IVF needs psychological counseling and support from hospitals. In short, IVF hospitals need to comprehensively consider ethical and moral issues and provide reasonable and responsible services for infertile couples.
