What are the ethical problems faced by test tube babies?

Answer 1

There is a plethora of medical and philosophical ethical questions behind "growing" humans experimentally. The first comes the ethical question of meddling with nature and genetics. These herald warnings in literature such as Mary Shelly's Frankenstein against playing with science and nature. Other considerations are on the social and economic implications of the affluent able to custom design humans, while others do not have the financial means to do so. It also becomes an equality question if humans with super traits are engineered and designed.

Answer 2

The babies come from a tube they say because the eggs are preserved that way. The baby is made with the eggs, it was never really in the test tube itself. People sometimes imply that they are not real babies.

Answer 3

This is a big question.

Keep in mind that "test tube baby" is just a lay person term for conception with the assistance of a fertility clinic. I.E. Fertilization of an egg outside of the body, then implantation in a woman's uterus. We have no technology to raise an infant to "full term" outside of a human female's womb, nor is it likely to be developed in the near future.

One of the strongest drives among both humans and animals is to have offspring or babies, and to pass on one's own genes and experiences.

In the USA, we can essentially care for all children if the mother (or father) desires, whether the parents are single, married, or teenagers. Unwanted pregnancies are often terminated. And, thus adoption in the USA has become difficult.

We also have adequate personal wealth to spend tens of thousands of dollars on fertility treatments.

Thus, there are some families that will go to any expense to have a baby.

Several issues come up though.

First of all, the planet Earth is getting to a critical level with the human population growth. For the survival of the species, we don't need to go to extraordinary lengths to have more babies. In fact, in many senses the planet would be better off with fewer babies.

Second, there are likely many causes of infertility. However, if there is a genetic deficit that would ordinary cause the genes from a person to not be passed on, is it wise to take artificial means to propagate these genes in the human gene pool?

Third is a practical issue. It is just as easy to implant multiple fertilized eggs as it is to implant a single one. So clinics often implant 2 or 3 eggs, and in some cases more... Should it be a contest to see how many babies a person can carry? Do we want octuplets? We've already discussed overpopulation. And, any more than twins becomes high risk pregnancies with severe long-term risks to the babies & children.

Finally, when does human life begin? With conception? So, what should be done with fertilized eggs that have been frozen, but later are no longer wanted? Should they be destroyed? Used in science? Should others be allowed to "adopt" these fertilized eggs if the need arises?

For now, this will remain as an option for people who's desires for their own children lead them to choose the procedure.

Answer 4

Ethically speaking it is okay by law, as you are bringing so much joy to a couple who could not have a baby in their life time.

Answer 5

Morally the test tube is alright , as neither are indulging in adultery.