commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

Transcription

1 Having a Baby the New-Fashioned Way John F. Kilner October 6,

2 Autonomy Utility Dignity Creation in the Image of God Then God said, Let Us make human beings in Our image, in Our likeness. (Genesis 1:26) Bearing the Burden of Infertility 40 Ways to Make a Baby Sarah and Abraham (Gen. 11:30) Rebekah and Isaac (Gen. 25:21) Rachel and Jacob (Gen. 29:31) Hannah (1 Sam. 1:2) Insemination Additional Birth Technologies Artificial (intra-uterine) insemination AIH (husband) AID (donor) ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) ZIFT (zygote intrafallopian transfer) GIFT (gamete intrafallopian transfer) Surrogate Mothers Gestational/Host Genetic/Traditional 2

3 Ethical Bounds Life (the embryo) Fidelity (the parents) Technology (the responsible party) Ethical Bounds Life (the embryo) Fidelity (the parents) Technology (the responsible party) Common Definitions The Beginning of a Human Being Embryo, as currently used in human embryology, means an unborn human in the first 8 weeks. (Human Embryology textbook [Wiley] by Ronan O Rahilly) Fertilization represents the starting point in the life history, or ontogeny, of the individual. (Human Embryology textbook [Mosby] by Bruce Carlson) Human established by genetics A Being (Organism) vs. Some Cells Important Distinction Great Biblical Themes Person with Potential vs. Potential Person Creation Corruption Redemption 3

4 Creation Corruption in God s image Genesis 1, 9 Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people. Romans 5:12 Corruption Redemption God s Indentification with all of humanity Psalm 51:5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. (cf. Psalm 139:15-16) Luke 1 A Child Whether Unborn or Born The child [brephos] leaped in her womb. Luke 1:41 Pharaoh forced the Jews to throw out their newborn children [brephos]. Acts 7:19 Since you were children [brephos] you have known the Scriptures. 2 Tim. 3:15 U.S. Supreme Court Dred Scott Case Blacks could be treated as an ordinary article of merchandise and traffic, whenever profit could be made by it. Referring to the language in the Declaration of Independence that includes the phrase, all men are created equal : it is too clear for dispute, that the enslaved African race were not intended to be included. 4

5 Implications for IVF Since Human Embryos Are Human Persons Should not transfer many embryos at one time Selective reduction is not acceptable Should transfer only 1 or 2 embryos at one time Should not freeze any embryos Should only create 1 or 2 embryos at one time Freezing eggs is OK as long as resulting embryos are not harmed and risk is recognized Egg Production Risks Approx. 1-10% of women with stimulated ovaries: experience severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which can cause pain, and occasionally leads to hospitalization, renal failure, potential future infertility, and even death. Ethical Bounds Life (the embryo) Fidelity (the parents) Technology (the responsible party) Fidelity (Marriage) Man and woman committed to each other, and to children resulting from their union Children the fruit of a relationship ( Be fruitful and multiply ) Children the symbolic and literal reflection of the two becoming one flesh Implications of Fidelity for In Vitro Fertilization Children should come from within the male-female marriage relationship Provider sperm or eggs not acceptable My Father Was an Anonymous Sperm Donor [Seller]...Where donor conception is concerned, everyone focuses on the parents Not adultery, but not ethical 5

6 Ethical Bounds Life (the embryo) Fidelity (the parents) Technology (the responsible party) Technology Technology Makes action more ethical Makes action less ethical Makes action as ethical Makes action more ethical Makes action less ethical Makes action as ethical Technology Technology Makes action more ethical Makes action less ethical Makes action as ethical Makes action more ethical Makes action less ethical Makes action as ethical 6

7 Beyond the Biblical Bounds Loving God If IVF involves freezing of embryos If IVF involves creating & implanting more embryos than the human body normally handles i.e., 1 or 2 Excluding violations of how God has created and intended the world to be Seeking wisdom from God in prayer Seeking godly counsel from others If egg and sperm not from a married couple Loving Neighbors as Ourselves Benefits: improved likelihood that a couple will have a child reflecting their union Harms Parents: financial, emotional, and physical stresses Children: risks of damage done by the procedure (consider the latest data) Options Will Multiply Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) 3-Parent Embryos Most of the genetic material from 1 woman (nucleus of her egg) Other genetic material from another woman (cytoplasm in her egg outside the nucleus) Father s genetic material (from his sperm) snowflakes.org embryodonation.org 7

8 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God. James 1:5 8