SOCIAL AND ETHICAL ASPECTS OF IN VI...

SOCIAL AND ETHICAL ASPECTS OF IN VITRO FERTILIZATION E Heitman International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care Vol 15 (Winter 1999) 22-35

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an extraordinary technology that continues to have dramatic social and ethical events As with many medical technologies, IVF was expanded and adopted with little consideration for its potential social and ethical general intents There is a scarcity of literature addressing the social, ethical, and legal issues emanating from assisted reproductive technologies. The social conclusions of the growth and widespread applications of IVF are worrisome, especially when data demonstrating its effectiveness are absent. An important social question rotates around the effectiveness of IVF. In vitro fertilization does not specific infertility, and its effectiveness is defined in various way, similar as "clinical pregnancy, live birth, or the delivery of a healthy, singleton infant."

In vitro fertilization has raised extremely composite legal and ethical questions relating to parenthood, children, and the beginning of life. The law repeatedly has not responded adequately to IVF. This inadequacy--combined with the gap between recent applications of the technology and the disentanglement of relevant law--has culminated in highly variable regulation internationally. The progressive growth and effects of IVF continue to be difficult to reign over because the treatment of infertility is unregulated in the United States and many other countries.

In vitro fertilization has contributed to the medicalization of infertility, and despite its uncertain effectiveness, reproductive technology is becoming increasingly imperative. Furthermore, IVF significantly has affected the social meaning and legal definition of parenthood, as well as the commodification of the extracorporeal embryo

Medical technology has the ability to transform relatively simple questions into extremely complicate problems. In vitro fertilization exemplifies this ability. In 20 years, IVF has mov from breakthrough to relatively routine technology and has brought with it seemingly unresolvable uncertainties and ethical conflicts. The insights this researcher provides about IVF can be extrapolated to other of the present day technologies, as well.

EDWINA A. McCONNELL RN PHD FRCNA NURSING RESEARCH COMMITTEE

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