Case Study: Five years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Smith successfully underwent in vitro fertilization at the (IVF) clinic in thei
Posted: Mon May 09, 2022 4:56 pm
Case Study: Five years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Smith successfully
underwent in vitro fertilization at the (IVF) clinic in their local
hospital. Twelve eggs were successfully fertilized, only 4 were
implanted. The Smith's signed a contract to freeze their surplus
embryos (the other 8 eggs) for possible implantation at a later
date. Tragically Mr. and Mrs. Smith died in an automobile accident
one-year later. Two years after this the IVF clinic learned of
their deaths. In the hospital there was a research group actively
researching therapies for Parkinson's disease. They presented a
proposal to the Hospital Ethics Committee to be allowed to use stem
cells derived from the frozen embryos for research in Parkinson's
disease therapy. When the Director of the research team approached
the IVF clinic to obtain unused frozen embryos, the head of this
clinic had to make a decision on what should be done with the
embryos.
After reading the case study, determine which of the following
you think is the most ethical choice concerning what should be done
with the remaining embryos: In the next several questions, you will
be asked to evaluate your answer using the stated ethical
principles. You must stay consistent in your choice of the options
below through all 4 questions. Some of the principles may support
your choice, some may not. In the end, you will determine if your
original choice was, in fact, the most ethical.
My Choice: Offering the embryos for adoption by another
family
1. Define beneficence and apply the components
of beneficence. to evaluate your choice. How does it
benefit the individual and society?
2. Define non-maleficence and apply the components
of non-maleficence. How does it potentially hurt
the family, egg or society.
3. Determine if your choice ethical from a non-maleficence
and beneficence. viewpoint?
underwent in vitro fertilization at the (IVF) clinic in their local
hospital. Twelve eggs were successfully fertilized, only 4 were
implanted. The Smith's signed a contract to freeze their surplus
embryos (the other 8 eggs) for possible implantation at a later
date. Tragically Mr. and Mrs. Smith died in an automobile accident
one-year later. Two years after this the IVF clinic learned of
their deaths. In the hospital there was a research group actively
researching therapies for Parkinson's disease. They presented a
proposal to the Hospital Ethics Committee to be allowed to use stem
cells derived from the frozen embryos for research in Parkinson's
disease therapy. When the Director of the research team approached
the IVF clinic to obtain unused frozen embryos, the head of this
clinic had to make a decision on what should be done with the
embryos.
After reading the case study, determine which of the following
you think is the most ethical choice concerning what should be done
with the remaining embryos: In the next several questions, you will
be asked to evaluate your answer using the stated ethical
principles. You must stay consistent in your choice of the options
below through all 4 questions. Some of the principles may support
your choice, some may not. In the end, you will determine if your
original choice was, in fact, the most ethical.
My Choice: Offering the embryos for adoption by another
family
1. Define beneficence and apply the components
of beneficence. to evaluate your choice. How does it
benefit the individual and society?
2. Define non-maleficence and apply the components
of non-maleficence. How does it potentially hurt
the family, egg or society.
3. Determine if your choice ethical from a non-maleficence
and beneficence. viewpoint?