Bioethics

• IVF 


  In Vitro Fertilisation-The fertilisation of an egg (ovum) with sperm in a test tube
• AIH


  a procedure whereby the sperm of the male is placed directly into the uterus (womb) of his female partner so that fertilisation of the ovum can be achieved.
• AID 


  a procedure as with AIH, however the sperm is provided by a donor who is not the woman's partner.
• Surrogacy


  a woman carries and gives birth to a baby for another person or couple. The surrogate mother might be the baby's genetic mother if she provided the ovum. Alternatively, she could be completely unrelated to the baby, eg if an already fertilised ovum or embryo was placed in her womb.
• Arguments for bioethics

  • IVF treatment can result in spare embryos. These can be frozen and used later by the couple to add to their family. Alternatively, spare embryos can be used for research and then destroyed. Research would help doctors understand the causes of childlessness and develop possible treatments.
• Arguments against bioethics

  • An embryo, however it is produced, is a potential human being and should not be destroyed. Some people might equate this with murder.
  • Some people regard life as starting at conception, therefore destroying or doing research on the embryo is unacceptable.
• Christian arguments for IVF

  • For: It is common for more than one embryo to be produced by IVF, and for some to be left over. Embryos can be frozen for use at a later date by the couple. A couple may give their consent for the spare embryos to be used for research or be destroyed within 14 days (according to UK law). The Church of England and the Methodist Church support this view.
• Christian arguments against IVF

  • Against: Some Christians believe that the unwanted embryos should not be destroyed as they are potential human beings and/or because they believe that life begins at conception. The Roman Catholic and many evangelical churches take this view. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that embryos have the right to be respected as a person from the moment of conception (Roman Catholic Catechism 2378).
• What is the hfea?


  UK's first independent regulator of fertility treatment and research using human embryos-1st of its kind in the world. Everyone who steps into a fertility clinic and everyone born as a result receives high-quality care. HFEA does this by licensing, monitoring, and inspecting, fertility clinics. It provides free, clear and impartial info about treatment,clinics and egg, sperm, and embryo donation-also collects data.