Fertilization of Human Eggs in Vitro: Morals, Ethics and the Law

The biological, social, and legal aspects of work on the fertilization of human ova in vitro and the reimplantation of embryos into the uterus of the mother are considered by a scientist engaged in these studies. The initial parts of the review provide descriptions of studies on the control of ovulation, and the methods developed for the culture of cleaving animal and human embryos. The main part of the review is devoted to the moral and ethical aspects such studies. An outline description is given, first, of the development of clinical methods in various fields, together with a consideration of the methods of fetal screening necessary in work on the reimplantation of human embryos. The position of the infertible patients, in relation to the development of studies of fertilization in vitro, is then discussed, including the assessment of some opinions expressed on the therapeutic nature of treatments based on the reimplantation of embryos. A brief description of genetic engineering, including its imminence, practicability, and dangers, is then given. Some theological, philosophical, and legal aspects of fertilization in vitro and the reimplantation of embryos are debated in the final sections of the review. These sections include a commentary on current discussions about the philosophical and theological aspects of the work. Descriptions are given of some examples in law relevant to clinical attempts to alleviate infertility, together with a consideration of the legal relationship between patients, offspring, and those doctors and scientists engaged in these clinical studies.