The Influence of IVF on Social Ethics
IVF refers to the combination of eggs and sperm in IVF and embryo culture stages through assisted reproductive technology, and finally implant the cultured embryos into the mother, so that infertile couples can achieve fertility. The emergence of IVF has brought revolutionary changes to our way of reproduction, and also triggered a series of social ethical and moral problems. This article will elaborate on the influence of IVF on social ethics from four aspects.
1. Impact of fertility concept and traditional concept
The appearance of test tube baby broke the original natural birth mode in the minds of most people, making people begin to think about the change of birth concept. In the traditional concept, fertility is usually associated with sexual behavior and natural pregnancy. Now, through IVF technology, fertility and sexual behavior can be separated. This change may have an impact on people with conservative traditional concepts, and even cause moral disputes.
In addition, there are expectations and pressures for fertility in traditional concepts. The emergence of IVF will relieve the pressure of infertile couples, but also increase the pressure of other people's fertility. Therefore, the emergence of IVF has triggered people to re-examine and think about the concept of fertility.
2. Changes in family structure and parent-child relationship
IVF technology has enabled previously infertile couples to achieve fertility, but it has also led to changes in family structure and parent-child relationship. In the traditional concept, both parents participate in the process of pregnancy and childbirth, and have a unique biological relationship with children. However, with IVF technology, children may be produced through donated sperm or eggs, and have no biological relationship with at least one parent.
This change in family structure and parent-child relationship may have an impact on family stability and children's identity. Parents need to face the problem of how to discuss their life experiences with their children and how to establish a parent-child relationship. In addition, the emergence of IVF also triggered legal and moral discussions on parent-child relationship to ensure children's rights and family stability.
3. Protection of bioethics and human dignity
The technology of IVF involves the treatment of human life, which causes the protection of bioethics and human dignity. In the process of IVF, multiple embryos may be cultured, but only some of them will be implanted into the mother, and the remaining embryos may be frozen, destroyed or used for scientific research. This involves the assessment and trade-off of the life value of embryos.
In addition, IVF technology has also triggered a moral controversy over embryo screening and genetic transformation. Some technologies can enable parents to select specific embryos for implantation, so as to gain control over specific genes of the child. This triggered ethical assessment of life and rational use of technology to protect human dignity and respect for life.
4. Consideration of medical resource allocation and fairness and justice
IVF technology requires a large number of medical resources, including hospital facilities, doctors' expertise and technical equipment. This triggered consideration of medical resource allocation and fairness and justice. The high price of IVF technology may lead to the fact that only the rich people can enjoy this technology, while those with poor economic conditions cannot.
This unequal distribution of medical resources may exacerbate the social class gap and lead to the destruction of the principle of fairness and justice. Therefore, the society needs to think about how to allocate medical resources fairly, so as to ensure that people of different classes can equally enjoy the benefits brought by IVF technology.
Summary
As a major reproductive technology, IVF has brought far-reaching impact on social ethics and morality. From the perspective of the impact of fertility and traditional concepts, the change of family structure and parent-child relationship, the protection of bioethics and human dignity, as well as the consideration of medical resource distribution and fairness and justice, IVF has triggered a series of complex moral disputes and thinking. In the face of these impacts, society needs to comprehensively consider the advantages and disadvantages of technology, uphold ethical principles, and ensure the rational application of IVF technology to promote the sound development of society.
