The Ethics of IVF

In vitro fertilization or IVF  is a series of procedures used to help combat infertility. The IVF process typically is around three weeks for one cycle and is outlined in the image above.

As a relatively new medical procedure/technology there are still many questions regarding the ethics and what should or should not be done. However, there seems to be less of a focus on whether IVF itself is ethical or not. Nowadays, the concerns are pertaining to other factors associated with IVF itself. There are many ethical issues, but in this presentation I will be narrowing it down to four:

1) Should there be a maximum and minimum age limit for IVF patients? 

Over 6000 respondents from 6 European countries were surveyed on their thoughts to this question and these were the results

2) Should single women and same-sex couples have access to IVF?

There are both financial and psychological implications pertaining to this question 

                                   

3) Who owns the stored gametes and embryos?

A UK case is a perfect example of the complexities of this question. We will consider this in class!

4) Should IVF be publicly funded?

Women from disadvantaged socioeconomic groups have pretty much less access to access -- including reproductive technology and infertility treatment. Should this be funded so that everyone should have access? How does this differ from country to country? 



These are the questions we will be discussing! See you guys in class Tuesday!