Bioethical aspects upon the embryo’s problem in medically assisted reproduction (in vitro fertilization-IVF)

Abstract

Introduction. In the Republic of Moldova, about 15% of the couples suffer from infertility and IVF has been successfully practiced for 5 years: out of 3000 couples, 1200 children were born. Medical assisted human reproduction is an ensemble of techniques and clinical or biological methods that allow the procreation of the embryo outside the realm of the natural process (in absence of the sexual intercourse) alongside with the doctor’s intervention. Although the embryo is only seen as “a product of conception in the first three months of existence” and its moral status is undetermined, is it ethically acceptable an in vitro procreation followed by an eventual destruction of embryos? Is the principle of “benevolence” challenged by the “primum non noncere” one? Aim of the study. To reveal the embryo’s „disproportional risk of death” and to prove that all the pre-embryos or embryos, regardless they are inside or outside the female’s body are comparable to born human being and have the right of life. Materials and methods. Published scientific materials (internet sources, monographs etc.) about the implementation of IVF methods in all countries of the world, legal cases/facts/ and written debates based on the status of in vitro fertilization and embryo’s rights. Abstracts from the European Court of Human Rights: Consent to IVF treatment – Human Fertilization and Embryology Act 1990 upon the storage of the embryos, articles from The International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology and Regulation of providing medically assisted human reproduction services authorized by the Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection, Republic of Moldova, and Statistics by the Center of Reproductive Health and Medical Genetics of Moldova. Results. Based on the research, there is a strong bioethical dispute about the embryo as individuality between the scientists. The problem subsists along with their fate post-procedure. So, if following the AMR path, we observe that in order to ensure the success rate is stimulated an over-ovulation leading to a considerable increase in the embryo’s number. Doctors implant not only one, but several embryos in the womb. However not all of them resist, thus, the treatment results in a multifetal pregnancy, with 1 or 2 embryos being chosen and the rest of them removed. In this case, there are 3 alternatives: 1) embryo elimination, 2) their destruction for research purposes (because once thawed they lose their viability), 3) anabiosis ("suspended animation"). Conclusions. . (1) Ontogenesis, which implies an individual development uniquely encoded by the genome does not remove the preceding phases from the later one, but keep them in “eternal” memory. Moreover, the biological advance leads to the phenotypic manifestation of the characteristics with which it was initially equipped. (2) From the moment of fertilization, the embryo is an autonomous organism that possesses a biological essence which demonstrates its belonging to the human species and its assignment to human rights. (3) No final option protects the value of the embryo’s life because, through this practical sacrifice, an abortion is performed, and from a religious point of view, a homicide.