SQA Higher RMPS (Medical Ethics) - Reproductive Embryos 10 marker

IVF Definition

One reproductive use of embryos is in vitro fertilisation, where an egg is removed from a woman's ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a lab. The embryo is returned to the woman's womb to grow into a baby.

IVF moral issue

One moral issue raised by IVF is whether or not the technology manipulates something we shouldn't have control over - how life is created.

IVF utilitarian

Utilitarian Jeremy Bentham wrote that "it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong." This implies that a utilitarian would consider the consequence of an action and not the action itself. For example within this moral issue they may consider the impact on potential parents who would be happy since they can have biological kids as well as kids up for adoption who would be upset since they'd have less prospective adopters and weigh up whether the technology maximises happiness overall.

IVF consequence

As a consequence, they may disagree with this moral issue as the manipulation leads to more happiness for the most people even if some people in society feel it is wrong.

Destruction of Embryos moral issue

During the process of IVF many embryos are created but not every embryo created will be used. Some will be destroyed or used for research. Another moral issue raised by IVF is when life begins and when does the life become a person. Do we have a responsibility to treat an embryo in a certain way?

Destruction of Embryos Utilitarian

Peter Singer argued that a person is "a being who is capable of anticipating the future, of having wants and desires for the future." This implies that while embryos may be alive they do not qualify as people because they are not capable of wanting anything or anticipating the future.

Destruction of Embryos Consequence

As a consequence Utilitarians may argue that this is a weak moral issue because the embryo is not yet considered a person, as well using any discarded embryo even beyond the deadline of when it can be researched on.