Assisted reproduction occurs as one of the major breakthroughs to be ever achieved by humankind in the field of medical science. This is accredited to the primary fact that assisted reproduction, which entails the application of biomedical technologies promises undreamed and unquestionable benefits to human beings (Saul “The Gift of Life, and Its Price”). Even so, there is a need to note that there are a wider array of ethical concerns that arise from the application of assisted reproductive technologies.
More importantly, assisted reproduction technologies are clouded by ethical concerns emanating from the destruction of embryos. With the use of assisted reproduction technologies, especially in-vitro fertilization, the fate of excess embryos that remain after fertilized is unknown. In most cases, the excess embryos are discarded through various means. As an example, some couples who have utilized assisted reproductive technologies may opt to bury, whereas other choose to donate for use on fertility and stem cell researches. In other cases, the embryos are destroyed in the clinics. Discarding of the excess embryos regardless of the means used to discard them is unethical because it compares to destruction of life. An embryo is a living organism; hence, discarding it relatively similar to abortion (Ryan 33).
In addition, assisted reproduction is unethical in that it entails the fertilization of excess embryos. In most cases, fertilization of more embryos than needed augments the occurrence of multiple pregnancies. Worth noting is the fact that cases of multiple pregnancies endangers the mother’s health, as well as the life of the embryo and the neonate. In fact, researches carried out in the recent past indicate that a significant proportion of multiple pregnancies results in maternal death. In other cases, multiple pregnancies jeopardize the health of the mother. In a nutshell, the unethicality of assisted reproduction emanates from the fact it by-passes the natural method of conception and resorts to creating life in the laboratory. Notably, the laboratory environment does not provide comprehensive environments that can enhance conception; hence, making the whole idea of assisted reproduction unethical (Ryan 61).
Work Cited
Ryan, Maura. Ethics and Economic of Assisted Reproduction: The Cost of Longing. Georgetown: Georgetown University Press, 2003. Print.
Saul, Stephen. “The Gift of Life, and Its Price.” The New York Times 10 Oct 2009; All. Web. Retrieved From: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/health/11fertility.html
