Frozen Embryos: Biotech's Hidden Dilemma
Ron Stoddart, director of Nightlight Christian Adoptions, a nonprofit that facilitates Christian adoption, David Cook, a Wheaton College bioethics expert, and Ellen Painter Dollar, the author of a forthcoming book about Christian perspectives on reproductive and genetic technology, weigh in on what should be done with frozen embryos left over at fertility clinics.
Adopt Frozen Embryos
For those who believe that life begins at conception, only one choice remains.
Ron Stoddart
When couples choose in-vitro fertilization to create embryos to help build their families, the unused embryos are frozen for future attempts at pregnancy. Most couples are unprepared for what to do with remaining embryos once their family is complete. There are over 500,000 embryos currently frozen in storage at American clinics.
Although together these embryos occupy a space the size of a 12mm cube—the size of a board game die—they represent the population of a city the size of Atlanta. Size is subject to perspective. We all look mighty small from the moon. But to God, we are wondrously made and valuable at every stage of development.
In 2009, a public opinion survey asked what should be done with remaining embryos. Most respondents said that the embryos should be donated to other infertile couples (68.8 percent) rather than being destroyed (5.9 percent) or being donated for research (which also destroys them).
To answer this question from a Christian perspective, we must first understand what an embryo is. Unlike an egg or sperm cell, an embryo is a complete pre-born human being with a full set of chromosomes and DNA. Just like you and me, it is a unique human unlike any other on earth. Science tells us that life begins when a sperm and egg unite. From that point forward, the embryo needs only nutrients and a safe place to grow to develop into a child.
So what are we to do with the large number of embryos who occupy such a tiny space? Fertility clinics typically give patients four choices: donate the embryos to another couple, donate the embryos for research, destroy the embryos, or keep the embryos in frozen storage. We may agree that the best choice is for the couple who created the embryos to try for another pregnancy with them. But what if the couple does not want additional children?
In that case, donating the embryos to another couple seems like the most loving choice. But the donor family might be concerned about another family parenting "their child" (a concern shared by every birthmother who has chosen adoption over abortion).
More than 3,000 children have been born in the United States through embryo donation or adoption. Fertility clinics have had embryo donation programs for over 20 years, but embryo adoption, a process whereby donors are actively involved in finding parents to receive the embryos, began in 1997 with Nightlight Christian Adoptions' Snowflakes program. Donors have a choice in what to do with their remaining embryos.
For those who believe that life begins at conception and is worthy of protection and a chance to impact the world as God intended, only one choice remains: birth.
Take Responsibility for Embryos
There are no ideal scenarios, but we must work for a solution.
David Cook
Before we can set significant guidelines regarding the fate of unused, frozen human embryos, we must ask: Who is responsible for them? Since embryos cannot make decisions, who gets to decide whether they will be donated, adopted, or destroyed?
Parents decide for their children, and families decide what will happen to an unconscious or dying family member.
Star Trek Into Darkness
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Jake Eye
Pam, No single can of pop causes a cavity - it's a cumulative weakening, but the cavity comes just the same. Because IVF has not caused any obvious problems, doesn't mean that it has no effect on a marriage or relationship. With IVF, the child is reduced to an object that can be controlled, calculated, and tested. The embryonic life is 100% dependent upon technology, for it's existence. It subordinates human life to a function of science. It violates human dignity. As equals, embryonic life has the right to be conceived in it's mothers womb. Why do we have the right to deny this of others? It's a matter of domination - exherting our desires over the rights of others. This is different than conjugal love which proposes, then cooperates through free, faithful, complete self-giving openness. Love isn't forced. A spirit of domination isn't from Christ. I found "Donum Vitae" and "Life-Giving Love in an Age of Tech." helpful. I wish you peace. -Jake
Pam M
Jake, I feel funny going into any more details of our specific situation on a message board -- sorry not to be able to clarify. You and I think about all of this very differently. I see IVF as a means to help couples who have problems with reproduction which, unfortunately, involves some steps beyond the marriage embrace. I believe that God is a healer who tends to work through the medical profession and so often third parties like doctors do have to be involved. I confess that I have never understood the arguments about IVF harming the marriage embrace or the bonding; we did not experience any such negative effects -- despite the fact that we have had children both the sexual/spontaneous/in-utero way and the sperm sample/scheduled/petri dish way. Anyway, I wish you much peace and many blessings as you raise your family. This exchange has reminded me of my deep gratitude to God for faithfully guiding us through the infertility journey and for my family.
Jake Eye
Pam, I'm not sure what is meant by "had we not done IVF, our embryos would have had a 100% death rate." IVF is the process of creating the new embryonic life in a petri dish. The transfer is the actual implantation of the embryo's. I'm 100% against creating them. If they have been created, the children should be allowed to be implanted, grow, and develop. In what ways does IVF, which: involves a 3rd party (Dr.) in the external creation (and potentially 3rd party sperm/egg), excludes the marital embrace, potentially severs gestational and biological maternity, excludes the spontaneity of creation, and potentially creates "spare children" - mimic conjugal love? The only similarity is the end result. We were offered IVF as part of our infertility treatment options. The recommendation was to use 3rd party gametes. IVF ultimately leads to looking outside of the marriage to a 3rd party (Dr. or donor), to create a child. That's not healthy for a Christian marriage.