Sciences (medicine) and fetus

[billcu1]

I am very much against abortion just like the church and catholicism teaches. But in the interest of science, studing the fetus that is for the health of the baby by obstetrics if a fetus is born dead…Well I’m not going to say anymore. I think all know what I mean. I hope I haven’t violated a rule.

 

[thistle]

I am very much against abortion just like the church and catholicism teaches. But in the interest of science, studing the fetus that is for the health of the baby by obstetrics if a fetus is born dead…Well I’m not going to say anymore. I think all know what I mean. I hope I haven’t violated a rule.

Is there a question?

 

[billcu1]

Is there a question?

Can the fetus of a miscarriage be used in science to increase our scientific and medical knowledge of the fetus. Would it be immoral for science to do this with an aborted fetus? Hopefully not done by a catholic or someone(s) going to need an excommunication lifted.

 

[JimG]

It’s acceptable for persons to donate their bodies (after death) for scientific study, or anatomical study. I know some who have done this. I’m not aware that there is much demand if any for scientific study of fetal remains. Much embryological knowledge is obtained by ultrasound. If the question is, is it permissible to kill an unborn child in order to use it for scientific study, the answer is no, both before and after birth.

 

[ServantPD]

Can the fetus of a miscarriage be used in science to increase our scientific and medical knowledge of the fetus. Would it be immoral for science to do this with an aborted fetus? Hopefully not done by a catholic or someone(s) going to need an excommunication lifted.

I think it depends on the nature of the study in question, and wheter it is in ethical bounds. But for the sake of playing it safe, you might want to simply avoid approaching these questions. I don’t think neither a Catholic faithful nor a heart-broken mother would accept this, anyway… I mean, what type of persuasive speech can a doctor to ask such a donation? (I mean, seriously… A woman with weeks of having hormones down her blood stream isn’t exactly any Stoic)
And what benefit really comes from studying such a disformed fetus that is in the boundary of time to be classified a miscarriage and not manageable to survive with the medical equipment of today?

 

[Stillsosola]

I as a woman who buried her miscarried child would never go to hospital to have them scrap the fetus out of me and then dispose of it or use it in experiments humans have more dignity than that I object to autopsy as well and embalming God does not say in the bible to cut up cadavers for science its wrong anyway in my opinion

 

[Starrsmother]

Most miscarried babies ("products of conception or “POC” as such are referred to medically) are disposed of by the hospital if it happens there. Often when very early miscarriage occurs however, there’s really not an identifiable fetus that’s passed. Maybe she got a positive pregnancy test and 2 weeks later simply begins a really heavy period and it’s all over, is the example I’d use. Having said that, in the many years I’ve worked in the women’s health field, I’ve never had a situation arise where the fetus was identifiable and the mom wanted to take it for burial etc that this wasn’t okayed immediately. What DOES occur often–that’s maybe a little more bothersome, though it only just occurred to me as I read the thread starter’s question-- is what occurs sometimes in later miscarriages where there often IS a very identifiable fetus. A lot of women who miscarry and particularly if this wasn’t their first miscarriage want to know “Why?” Obviously they are concerned if they or their husband carry a genetic anomally or something that will impact future attempts at having children—and I have always considered these questions to be legitimate and sometimes can give real peace to a woman who may be wondering if she somehow “caused the miscarriage”–which is always unlikely, but the mom still worries. Those fetuses are placed in a bucket of formalin and sent to pathology for inspection, disection, testing–whatever—by the pathologist, who upon completing the exam generates a report of his findings to the OB or Nurse Midwife or whomever is managing the pregnancy. Now what happens to the fetuses after such an exam I am not sure of but I’d imagine that they are cremated along with other “red bag” items. I’ve personally never had a woman ask for the fetal remains back after a pathologist’s exam–but someone else may know someone who has asked for them. Hmmm–I think that this is a really good question–I just never thought much about it before!!!

 

[billcu1]

I was watching a music video and there was a pig fetus in a jar of formaldehyde. This got me thinking. What about a human fetus in formaldehyde. Would this be good for science? Would this be undignified if the fetus was already dead. This is what got me thinking. Are our catholic beliefs stepping on science? Or is there such a science?

 

[Starrsmother]

I was watching a music video and there was a pig fetus in a jar of formaldehyde. This got me thinking. What about a human fetus in formaldehyde. Would this be good for science? Would this be undignified if the fetus was already dead. This is what got me thinking. Are our catholic beliefs stepping on science? Or is there such a science?

That was my point in my earlier post. Miscarried fetuses are placed in a bucket of formalin (formaldehyde) and sent to pathology. PLUS, almost every medical or nursing program has one or so in a jar and it is a teaching tool. I had never thought much about it one way or another before to be honest—but it did occur to me as I read this thread, that I wonder if the parents knew or if they cared. They are a useful resource for teaching fetal development and frankly, probably many parents would just as soon be spared any expense entailed by claiming a miscarried fetus and burying it or having it cremated. And the vast majority of miscarried fetuses from a hospital setting are infact simply cremated–but along with other “red bag” material–not separately. I wonder if maybe parents shouldn’t at least be aware so they could decide what they wanted done–but they would also need to understand that if they reclaim the fetus that any expense for burial, cremation etc would need to be their problem alone.

 

[billcu1]

That was my point in my earlier post. Miscarried fetuses are placed in a bucket of formalin (formaldehyde) and sent to pathology. PLUS, almost every medical or nursing program has one or so in a jar and it is a teaching tool. I had never thought much about it one way or another before to be honest—but it did occur to me as I read this thread, that I wonder if the parents knew or if they cared. They are a useful resource for teaching fetal development and frankly, probably many parents would just as soon be spared any expense entailed by claiming a miscarried fetus and burying it or having it cremated. And the vast majority of miscarried fetuses from a hospital setting are infact simply cremated–but along with other “red bag” material–not separately. I wonder if maybe parents shouldn’t at least be aware so they could decide what they wanted done–but they would also need to understand that if they reclaim the fetus that any expense for burial, cremation etc would need to be their problem alone.

Of course that fetus should as a baby in no way be harmed. Just if something bad happened.

 

[JanetF]

As a person who miscarried at an early stage of pregnancy, there were products of conception sent to pathology, they were able to confirm normal DNA. I “think” that I would be okay at any stage for the fetus to be “respectfully” used for research. If we do not allow this, how will new technology develop. We will need the new technology to continue the fight against abortion. First look ultrasounds can be pivotal in revealing what the new mom is facing.

If the scientific community follows ethical practices, which most reputable places do, then there shouldn’t be a problem.

 

[billcu1]

As a person who miscarried at an early stage of pregnancy, there were products of conception sent to pathology, they were able to confirm normal DNA. I “think” that I would be okay at any stage for the fetus to be “respectfully” used for research. If we do not allow this, how will new technology develop. We will need the new technology to continue the fight against abortion. First look ultrasounds can be pivotal in revealing what the new mom is facing.

If the scientific community follows ethical practices, which most reputable places do, then there shouldn’t be a problem.

My condolences on your loss I’ve heard horror stories though on these abortion clinics. They say they talk usually young women into this without full information and pressure them. They aren’t sanitary. I couldn’t image aborting anything. Human or animal.

 

[Starrsmother]

My condolences on your loss I’ve heard horror stories though on these abortion clinics. They say they talk usually young women into this without full information and pressure them. They aren’t sanitary. I couldn’t image aborting anything. Human or animal.

I don’t think that we were speaking of fetuses from abortion clinics as there is just so much wrong with that picture in every possible way. I think the issue was what happens to a fetus that is spontaneously miscarried in a hospital or clinical setting. At least that’s what I thought…

 

[billcu1]

I don’t think that we were speaking of fetuses from abortion clinics as there is just so much wrong with that picture in every possible way. I think the issue was what happens to a fetus that is spontaneously miscarried in a hospital or clinical setting. At least that’s what I thought…

You’re right. I just stepped onto the clinics for a minute. I didn’t mean to confuse anyone. I went OT for a post. Sorry.