Unwanted frozen embryos

[Rence]

That’s why the theologians are studying the problem; it is entirely possible that the Church may deem morally acceptable, under certain very limited circumstances, the rescue/adoption (implantation) of already existing embryos, while maintaining the prohibition of IVF, further contributing to the problem.

Since many of these embryos are good in stasis for many years, perhaps the next question to ask is if it is morally objectionable to keep these embryos in a state of frozen stasis. If the duration becomes “too late” and the embryos degenerate and die, you may have a valid concern. One of the considerations in this moral problem is, “Is it moral to let these embryos die a “natural” death through frozen degeneration, or do we have an obligation to rescue them?”

From what I gather, allowing them to degenerate in a frozen state seems to be the Church’s preferable option at this time, although there have been no definitive decisions on the snowflake babies. There are theologians who do not hold this position.

Once again, the Church works…slowly…She wants to get it “right”.

I wish they would consider their prohibition of IVF with careful guidelines (for example, mandating that folks have to USE any fertilized eggs rather than store them), but I’m not sure I see that happening. It looks like the Church prohibits every aspect and step involved in IVF. As to rescuing/adopting already frozen embryos, I’m not sure they will do that. While I wish they would, and they probably wish they could too, they will probably be limited by the possibility of abuse. If they allow people to adopt frozen embryos it will very likely create a situation where people will continue to freeze embryos thinking others will just adopt them. They arleady freeze them not thinking what will happen to the “extras”, if there are people willing to adopt them, there will be no limit to available frozen embryos.

 

[Doc_Keele]

In my experience, bad things happen if I don’t take the time to get things right in my veterinary practice. So, I take the time to get things right.

Much more is on the line for the Church and the faithful, and I expect that she will take the time to get it right.

So when an animal is dying you take your time to make sure you aren’t doing the wrong thing, even if the animal dies whilst you’re thinking?
If an animal has an obstructed airway, you think to yourself, I’d better sit down and think this once whilst it goes into respiratory arrest then cardiac arrest?
Interesting approach.

However, my experience of medical practice is that often it is necessary to act on less than ideal information. This is the teaching of the Advanced Trauma Life Support and Advanced Life Support courses too, in case you think I’m heterodox.

 

[Newbie2]

I wish they would consider their prohibition of IVF with careful guidelines (for example, mandating that folks have to USE any fertilized eggs rather than store them), but I’m not sure I see that happening. It looks like the Church prohibits every aspect and step involved in IVF. As to rescuing/adopting already frozen embryos, I’m not sure they will do that. While I wish they would, and they probably wish they could too, they will probably be limited by the possibility of abuse. If they allow people to adopt frozen embryos it will very likely create a situation where people will continue to freeze embryos thinking others will just adopt them. They arleady freeze them not thinking what will happen to the “extras”, if there are people willing to adopt them, there will be no limit to available frozen embryos.

Personally, I’m thinking along those lines too.

So when an animal is dying you take your time to make sure you aren’t doing the wrong thing, even if the animal dies whilst you’re thinking?
If an animal has an obstructed airway, you think to yourself, I’d better sit down and think this once whilst it goes into respiratory arrest then cardiac arrest?
Interesting approach.

However, my experience of medical practice is that often it is necessary to act on less than ideal information. This is the teaching of the Advanced Trauma Life Support and Advanced Life Support courses too, in case you think I’m heterodox.

Thanks for the critique of my work.

You seem to be quick to criticize others for straw men arguments; your comparison of a life-threatening emergency situatiion to what to do with embryos that will be viable, to the best of our knowledge, for tens of years at least would seem to qualify.

Your scenario is ridiculous. There are established emergency procedures for such scenarios, i.e. what is best to do is a particular situation. It would have been better to pose an acute hepatic failure scenario, where there would be a number of possible ways to intervene. When building a straw man, at least build a good one.

And with that, I bid this thread farewell.

 

[Doc_Keele]

LOL Newbie, my scenario is not ridiculous. The emergency protocols all centre around the fact that you have to act despite not having made a formal diagnosis, so it’s your point that is ridiculous. Of course you may even have to think for yourself in an emergency not covered by the protocols, a prospect that you might find quite terrifying?

 

[Newbie2]

LOL Newbie, my scenario is not ridiculous. The emergency protocols all centre around the fact that you have to act despite not having made a formal diagnosis, so it’s your point that is ridiculous. Of course you may even have to think for yourself in an emergency not covered by the protocols, a prospect that you might find quite terrifying?

This discussion is getting a bit personal; if you’d like to continue it, let’s go for it via PM. I don’t think anyone else is interested in how I practice my trade.