Introduction to Assisted Reproduction and Human Dignity.
You will find it glaring at you from the cover of every reputable magazine. You certainly cannot avoid its bold type on the front page of the morning paper. It is what the majority of news broadcasts are presenting. In vitro fertilization (IVF), surrogacy, and reproductive cloning- these different forms of assisted reproduction (AR) certainly all bring forth the most heated controversy society has dealt with in years. There is no doubt that society is changing due to these new technologies, but the question is, are these changes for the better or for the worse?.
Human dignity, a concept philosophers and ethicists speak very broadly of, is simply the high worth of human nature and human good. With all these new forms of reproductive technologies growing highly popular among infertile couples, it is apparent that the "traditional" notion of science developing with a respect for human dignity and fundamental human rights is questionable. In understanding AR and the debate over human dignity, many questions have to be constantly asked. Each situation is never black and white, and in understanding human dignity, basic ethical questions concerning the embryo's moral status, the identity of the parents, and selecting for and against certain traits should be examined. .
In Vitro Fertilization and Louise Brown .
IVF is a method of assisted reproduction in which the man's sperm and the woman's egg are combined in a laboratory dish, where fertilization occurs. The resulting embryo is then transferred to the uterus to develop naturally. Usually, two to four embryos are transferred with each cycle, in hopes that at least one will implant itself in the mother's uterine wall.
Some believe IVF undermines human dignity. Many religions believe that human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of one's existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person.
