Octuplets and the Question of Reproductive Ethics
I have been recovering from the flu--yuck--but have been following the story of the Octuplets born last week.
Basically, "the fertility doctor who helped a California woman have 14 children, including octuplets born last month, is facing a state investigation on top of harsh criticism from medical ethicists."
This raises some good questions. If we can do something, should we? Furthermore, who gets to decide? At what point does one's desires become trumped by ethical norms?
In light of that here is a link to An Overview to Reproductive Technologies. This will help orient you to the field, some of the procedures available and how they work as well as the ethical questions involved.
My professor for bioethics--Dr. Scott Rae--weighed in on the story in an article and I think his assessments are helpful:
Scott Rae, a fellow of the Centre for Bioethics and Human Dignity, said the case was neither a miracle nor cause for celebration. "The decision to implant eight or more embryos is indefensible," Dr Rae said. He applauded the woman's decision not to destroy any of her embryos, but suggested they could have been donated to other infertile couples.
Here are some other helpful articles to help us think ethically about decisions in our society.
Basically, "the fertility doctor who helped a California woman have 14 children, including octuplets born last month, is facing a state investigation on top of harsh criticism from medical ethicists."
This raises some good questions. If we can do something, should we? Furthermore, who gets to decide? At what point does one's desires become trumped by ethical norms?
In light of that here is a link to An Overview to Reproductive Technologies. This will help orient you to the field, some of the procedures available and how they work as well as the ethical questions involved.
My professor for bioethics--Dr. Scott Rae--weighed in on the story in an article and I think his assessments are helpful:
Scott Rae, a fellow of the Centre for Bioethics and Human Dignity, said the case was neither a miracle nor cause for celebration. "The decision to implant eight or more embryos is indefensible," Dr Rae said. He applauded the woman's decision not to destroy any of her embryos, but suggested they could have been donated to other infertile couples.
Here are some other helpful articles to help us think ethically about decisions in our society.
Labels: Cultural Observations, Current Events, Ethics, Sexuality, Thinking Christianly
posted by Jonathan Morrow at
12:00 AM
1 Comments:
Furthermore, who gets to decide?
So there's the rub. Many of the arguments I have heard in the past about the role of religion in today's society relate to just this point. Who gets to decide.
While I know there is no provision for so called "Separation of Church and State" I do like the fact that there is not a Department Of Religion telling us what to believe or how to practice our faith.
With the new "Stimulus Bill" there is a National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. So now we will have a buracracy that decides what your life is worth. You may be ill, but the cost of saving you may be just too much for society to make that investment. How soon then before it is turned around to the other end of the spectrum and a doctor decides, well you have enough kids...
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