Abstract
This article is a response to McLeod and Baylis (2007) who speculate on the dangers of requesting fresh ‘spare’ embryos from IVF patients for human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research, particularly when those embryos are good enough to be transferred back to the woman. They argue that these embryos should be frozen instead. We explore what is meant by ‘spare’ embryos. We then provide empirical evidence, from a study of embryo donation and of embryo donors' views, to substantiate some of their speculations about the problems associated with requesting fresh embryos. However, we also question whether such problems are resolved by embryo freezing, since further empirical evidence suggests that this raises other social and ethical problems for patients. There is little evidence that the request for embryos for research, in itself, causes patients distress. We suggest, however, that no requests for fresh embryos should be made in the first cycle of IVF treatment. Deferring the request to a later cycle ensures that potential donors are better informed (by experience and reflection) about the possible destinations of their embryos and about the definition of ‘spare embryos’. Both this article, and that by McLeod and Baylis, emphasize the need to consider the views and experiences of embryo donors when evaluating the ethics of embryo donation for hESC research.
Highlights
This article is a response to McLeod and Baylis (2007) who speculate on the dangers of requesting fresh ‘spare’ embryos from IVF patients for human embryonic stem cell research, when those embryos are good enough to be transferred back to the woman
We provide empirical evidence, from a study of embryo donation and of embryo donors’ views, to substantiate some of their speculations about the problems associated with requesting fresh embryos
This article is written in response to McLeod and Baylis[1] who argue that ‘spare’ fresh embryos that are good enough to be transferred to the woman for treatment should not be donated[2] to human embryonic stem cell research, since doing so is not in the woman’s self- or other-regarding interests
Summary
This article is written in response to McLeod and Baylis[1] who argue that ‘spare’ fresh embryos that are good enough to be transferred to the woman for treatment should not be donated[2] to human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research, since doing so is not in the woman’s self- or other-regarding interests. McLeod and Baylis raise some important issues: the need to consider the experiences of those being asked to donate embryos; the need to question what types of embryos are being donated (fresh or frozen; suitable for transfer or unsuitable for transfer); and whose interests those donations serve Their analysis, is based on speculations about what might happen when the request to donate is made and how potential donors might reason their way through such requests. We reach similar conclusions about the need for patients to have ‘time and distance from their IVF treatment that would allow them to reflect carefully on whether they want to donate excess embryos’[5] though we suggest different ways to achieve that opportunity for reflection
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