Code of Ethics

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Code of Ethics

The book Your Gamete, Myself puts into focus the matters concerning child bearing through egg donation. From research, in an estimated population of about forty million couples considering bearing children, 8.5% cannot conceive voluntarily. This is in America alone. However, with the current advancement in technology, in vitro fertilization (IVF) offers hope for these couples. However, especially on women, this new hope does not come without its criticism and social hardships. Despite these shortcomings, some couples still opt for this option rather than adopt a child. These couples should then consider the following ethical guidelines

The relationship of the physician and the couple seeking to conceive should be one that is trustworthy. The couple should be at ease and comfortable around the physician. It should be one that provides reasonable assurances and profound medical care. Most importantly, the physician is obliged to have regarded the matter as private and confidential unless otherwise agreed on by the couple.

There is also the issue about the probable harm inflicted on the pre-embryo. For fertilization to occur, chances have to be high. This is determined by the amount of pre-embryos that are deposited in the woman’s womb. An adequate amount of pre-embryos is required to sufficiently enhance pregnancy. The remainder ones are left frozen. They may be desolated or used for purposes of research. The destroyed embryo was human life thus halting its development will be deemed as wrongful since it translates to an act of murder. However, if by regarding the remaining embryos as just mere protoplasm, neither desolation nor freezing would be considered as essentially unethical.

There is a possibility of harm being inflicted to the couple by the physician or even to the unborn child. For in vitro fertilization to succeed, it is highly dependent on quality and amount of pre-embryo deposited in the woman’s uterus. This calls for many deposits to be made and this increases the probability of multiple pregnancy. The mother’s physical and mental health is put into risk incase of multiple pregnancy occurring. This may result to high blood pressure, dire consequences emanating from complications associated with caesarian section delivery or even uterine bleeding. Emotional hardships may even accompany these physical constraints, affecting both the woman and her male partner. Moreover, the couple has also to deal with the highly expensive costs that come along with this sophisticated service. This price can range from an incredible 15,000 dollars, and sadly with no guarantees of success.

For the expected child, it is subjected to jeopardy by the processes that lead to its conception. In case of multiple pregnancies, the well-being of the child is threatened by the possibilities of preterm birth or even reduced weight. Comparatively undertaken studies suggest that offspring born out of in vitro fertilization are often exposed to considerable risks of transposition of vessels and spina bifida. In addition, the drugs used for stimulating egg production in women pose a possibility of birth defects.  It therefore sounds reasonable to assure the safety of new technology before putting it into use. It is wrongful to conceive a child bearing in mind that it poses the child with serious risk of birth disorders.

The desire to bear children is undeniably understandable and praiseworthy. The sad thing about it is when people turn to technology as an act of desperation although it highly compromises the plans of God. It brings about devastating consequences on all the involved parties. For couples that understand the jeopardizing effects of in vitro fertilization, several options available that can bring promise into their lives. The best option being NaproTechnology. This form focuses on the problems associated with the body, leading to infertility and then attempts to fix this particular problem.

A couple facing infertility should not lose hope. For any decision they might try to make, an adoption option should not be overlooked than to otherwise look for a medical breakthrough. But in this current world, provided that in vitro fertilization services rake in huge sums of money, its progeny will not come to an end.

Reference:

“2005 Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Report.” Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Web. December 19, 2011. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ART/ART2005/index.htm .

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