Medical Science, Ethics and the Soul
By thewatchlist
@thewatchlist (653)
United States
December 23, 2006 11:26am CST
I received some very thought provoking comments on an earlier discussion that has me seeking answers a new question...
For those of you who believe in the the concept of a soul, when do you believe that the soul enters a body. Is it at conception/feritlization of the egg? Is it at some later stage of the pregnancy/gestation? Is it at birth?
Based on your thoughts on that, please share with me what you feel about these topics relating to in vitro fertilization.
1) Because a number of eggs and sperm are used and the fact that fertilization occurs in a lab setting, it is possible to select the gender of the children by implanting the embryos of prefered gender and discarding the rest.
http://www.newsobserver.com/559/story/384236.html
2) Embryos that are not used are discarded or frozen for later use (for implanting and bringing a child to term or for donation to be used for scientific research)
If you don't believe in the concept of a soul but would like to contribute your opinions on the ethtics of such matters relating to in vitro fertilization, please feel free to do so.
This question has to do with some controversial topics so please be thoughtful in your responses. I am assuming that the main differences in opinion on these points will be result of opinion on souls. Any responses that I see as intentionally insulting to someone else will receive a negative rating.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@bryelee (451)
• United States
23 Dec 06
I believe that the soul enters the body right away. I do not have a problem with a couple that can't have a baby getting invetro fertilization. I had heard there is a chance at choosing gender but I don't think its very good yet.
I don't like that they would be used for research. I feel this is morally wrong. I feel a lot of this testing can be done on the ambilical cord a baby is born in. I feel a lot of he tiem it is better anyway. If the hospital started keeping the cords and took some blood then that is better than the current method of using the embryos and tossing them.
I guess my beliefe in the soul largly comes from my faith.
2 people like this
@thewatchlist (653)
• United States
24 Dec 06
Thanks for the comments.
In the process of in vitro fertilization, many eggs are fertilized and some of those eggs are implanted, which means that some are destroyed or remain on ice indefinitely. If you feel the soul enters at fertilization, would the process of in vitro also be destroying these entities with souls (and be similar to the act of abortion)?
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@Tweety2035 (662)
• United States
23 Dec 06
the soul enters at conception.technically it is not even considered a life until it has a heart beat.
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@thewatchlist (653)
• United States
24 Dec 06
Thanks for commenting.
If it enters the soul at conception, what are the ethical/spiritual concerns relating to in vitro fertilization (considering embryos are discarded during the process).
1 person likes this
@thewatchlist (653)
• United States
24 Dec 06
Thanks for commenting. If I'm understanding you correctly, you are saying that embryo's have no soul, only a foetus. If that is an incorrect assessment of your statements, please let me know.
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