In vitro fertilization: methods and clinical applications

In-Vitro Fertilization

One of the most remarkable medical discoveries of the 20th century is in-vitro fertilization, a technique developed and used to conceive a human embryo outside of the mother's body. In-vitro fertilization was originally devised for use in cases of infertility, i.e., where the woman's fallopian tubes were damaged or the man's sperm count was low. However, in recent years, the use of in-vitro fertilization has been expanded to include pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, a process which is designed to create an embryo which is a close genetic match to a sibling who suffers from a rare genetic disorder. In this process, the blood from the umbilical cord of the baby created via in-vitro fertilization may be used to attempt to save the sibling's life. This process was first used in the case of Molly Nash from Colorado, where cord blood from her brother Adam was transplanted into the little girl, who is said to have made a near perfect recover. In addition, a girl was recently born to a British family hoping to treat their older child who has leukemia.

The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) recently granted a British couple permission to use in-vitro fertilization (i.e., pre-implantation genetic diagnosis) to create a test tube baby. What is so controversial about the HFEA's decision is the fact that the only reason why the British couple wants to utilize in-vitro fertilization is because one of their sons is seriously ill with thalassaemia, a rare genetic blood disorder. Likewise, this decision is controversial because it marks the first time the HFEA has allowed the use of in-vitro fertilization to pick an embryo which is a close genetic match for a sibling in order to treat him. It is the British couple's hope that in-vitro fertilization will allow them to create a test tube sibling whose blood could cure their son. In this paper, the ethical issues associated with the use of in-vitro fertilization to create "designer" babies will be analyzed and discussed.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION

While there are several compelling arguments in favor of in-virto fertilization (particularly in the case of infertile couples), there are just as many arguments in opposition to the use of in-vitro fertilization and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis in order to attempt to cure or treat genetic disorders in another child. First, using in-vitro fertilization and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis to create a test tube sibling whose umbilical cord blood could cure or treat a genetic disorder which exists in another baby violates the basic principle underlying in-vitro fertilization, i.e., that the process should be used as a last resort for infertile couples. Next, using in-vitro fertilization and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis could open the floodgates to couples wanting "designer" babies, i.e., babies who possess those traits which are perceived as being the most genetically desirable.

Third, using in-vitro fertilization and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is permitting human life to be created as a means to an end, not an end in itself. Although proponents of such treatment argue that it is being created to help another sibling, once it has been conceded that human life may be created for purposes other than those originally intended, it is very difficult to see where one should draw the line. Lastly, using in-vitro fertilization and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis to create a baby which is free of genetic disorders violates the notion that childbirth is the result of an act of God, one which sometimes produces babies which suffer from genetic disorders. Permitting doctors to assist individuals in creating "designer" babies is comparable to giving doctors a license to play God.

CONCLUSION

In-vitro fertilization was originally intended to assist couples who were infertile in having a baby. However, in recent years, the use of in-vitro fertilization and especially pre-implantation genetic diagnosis has been vastly expanded beyond its original intent. It is now possible for individuals to utilize such procedures and tests to create "designer" (i.e., babies without any genetic disorders) babies. Likewise, it is now possible for individuals to utilize in-vitro fertilization in order to create a baby whose umbilical cord blood will be able to cure or treat a genetic disorder in another child.