Personhood: In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is a process where oocyte cells are fertilized by sperm cells outside the body: In Vitro. The process involves hormonally controlling the ovulatory process, removing oocytes from the woman's ovaries and letting male sperm fertilize them in a fluid medium. The blastocyst, (three (3) to five (5) day old embryo), is then transferred to the uterus with the intent to establish a successful pregnancy. ¹ The first successful birth of a "Test Tube Baby", Louise Joy Brown, occurred Tuesday, July 25th, 1978, five (5) years, six (6) months, three (3) days after Roe v. Wade on Monday, January 22nd, 1973. Robert G. Edwards, the physiologist who developed the treatment, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2010.

Let's be clear: Personhood Will NOT Ban or Outlaw In Vitro Fertilization

Personhood: Embryonic Human Beings

Many have expressed fear about how Personhood will impact In Vitro Fertilization because the process often creates more embryonic human beings than are implanted in the mother's womb and the excess are usually discarded.

Let's be clear: Personhood Will NOT Ban or Outlaw In Vitro Fertilization

In fact many "left-over" embryos are "donated" for use in purely destructive research; even "abnormal disabled embryos" are "donated" for "studying diseases".

In a Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 press release, the American College of Embryology (ACE) ardently opposed DH-08-001 (regulation pending in California) that proposes to define human embryos as diagnostic specimens. ² ACE testified that "within diagnostic laboratories working with human specimens, there are clear pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical phases. At the end of the process the specimen is discarded as biological waste or stored, but in either case, the specimen is rendered non-viable. Diagnostic laboratory quality is measured in accuracy, sensitivity and specificity etc, according to the federal standards set by CLIA 88. On the other hand, human embryos do not become specimens at any stage of the process in the embryology laboratory. On the contrary, embryos are created with the intent to be transferred into the uterus to achieve pregnancy and all efforts are made to keep them viable. Embryology laboratory quality is measured in the percentage of embryos becoming live-born children." ³

Let's be clear: Personhood Will NOT Ban or Outlaw In Vitro Fertilization

Personhood will require ethical standards to forbid the intentional mass production, genetic selection and harvesting of embryos for research. Wesley J. Smith, J.D., Special Consultant to the Center for Bioethics and Culture Network (CBC) has this to say: "Let's hope the California bureaucrats pay heed to the embryologists. Whatever rules we create for nascent humans, should recognize that they are distinct human organisms. They are not blood cells or pieces of tumor tissue." ⁴

Personhood: IVF Mothers Know The Truth

"The morality of the 21st century will depend on how we respond to this simple but profound question: Does every human life have equal moral value simply and merely because it is human?" — Wesley J. Smith, J.D. ⁵

IVF Mothers know the yearning in their hearts to fill the void that can only be filled by a child. They go through tests, spend thousands of dollars to have the oocyte and sperm unite so one unique individual will begin to grow to the stage it can be instilled in her womb where it will implant, continue growth and be born. The entire expectation of each infertile woman is that the single-cell human embryo, who was sexually or asexually reproduced In Vitro, allowed to grow bigger, and then implanted in her womb, will one day be held in her arms and in her heart. IVF Mothers believe that the tiny embryos who are implanted in their wombs are human beings, human Persons, right from the beginning of their development. IVF Mothers, perhaps better than any of us, understand that the only product of a human male and a human female is a human being. A human being that deserves to be protected by love and by law.

Let's be clear: Personhood Will NOT Ban or Outlaw In Vitro Fertilization

On Starbuck's take-away coffee cups as part of its "The Way I See It" campaign in 2006 was a profound question posed by Wesley J. Smith. ⁶

Here it is:

"Does every human life have equal moral value simply and merely because it is human?

Answer Yes, and we have a chance of achieving universal human rights.

Answer No, and it means that we are merely another animal in the forest."

Personhood answers: "Yes".

Brothers, we really need to talk.

Reference(s):
1. According to Dr. Dianne N. Irving, M.A., Ph.D.; former career-appointed bench research biologist/biochemist, NCI, NIH; philosopher and medical ethicist (http://bit.ly/tLE8zB), the embryo must be in the correct stage of development in order to implant in the woman's uterus. If he or she is too young or too old implantation will not happen and the embryo simply dies. This is the basis for some of the mechanisms of action used in most contraceptives.
2. Houston, Texas — September 7, 2010 — American College of Embryology (ACE) opposes ruling DH-08-001 pending in California, which aims to regulate human embryos as diagnostic specimens (http://bit.ly/f2RYVT).
3. Ibid.
4. Wesley J. Smith, "American College of Embryology Opposes Defining Embryos as Mere 'Diagnostic Specimens' in California" (http://bit.ly/svLs43).
5. Wesley J. Smith, Featured on Starbuck's take-away coffee cups as part of its "The Way I See It" 2006 Campaign (http://bit.ly/b83dKq)
6. Ibid.