https://doi.org/10.4081/mem.2012.146

The unknown face of in vitro fertilization

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José María Pardo Sáenz
jmpardo@unav.es
MD, PhD, Professor of Moral Theology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Lo scopo di questo articolo è quello di mostrare il volto sconosciuto dei metodi artificiali di riproduzione umana. In generale, le cliniche per la fecondazione umana mostrano solo il volto più attraente della fecondazione in vitro: il neonato. Eppure, non hanno mai mostrato l'altra faccia di essa: la procedura lunga e drammatica che sta dietro. Dopo aver fatto un breve cenno alla attribuzione del Premio Nobel per la Medicina 2010 Robert Edwards, padre della fecondazione in vitro, analizziamo le due radici che sostengono il grande albero di metodi artificiali di riproduzione umana: lo scientismo e il sentimentalismo. Poi si studia l'aspetto etico di queste procedure. Siamo giunti ad un giudizio eticamente negativo su queste tecniche, dal momento che snaturano il significato della sessualità umana e l'atto coniugale. Subito dopo, analizziamo alcune delle conseguenze più frequenti di tali metodi: "la mortalità embrionale" associata con tali tecniche; "il congelamento degli embrioni in eccesso"; "i rischi per la salute", sia del neonato così come quella della donna. Tutti questi sono elementi che la coppia deve prendere in considerazione al fine di prendere la decisione più libera e più responsabile possibile. Infine, spieghiamo il "pendio scivoloso" relativo all'uso di queste tecniche (il bambino medicalizzato, i bambini à la carte, la maternità surrogata e il mercantilismo riproduttivo): ciò che è stato sviluppato con uno intento ben preciso, per risolvere il problema di infertilità, ha sicuramente aperto nuove importanti questioni etiche.
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The purpose of this article is to show the unknown face of artificial human reproduction methods. Generally, human fertilization clinics only show the most attractive face of in vitro fertilization: the newborn. Yet, they never show the other face of it: the long and dramatic procedure behind it. After briefly mentioning the 2010 Nobel Medicine Award granted to Robert Edwards, the father of in vitro fertilization, we analyze the two roots that support the big tree of artificial human reproduction methods: scientism and sentimentalism. Then we study the ethical aspect of these procedures. We come to the conclusion that these techniques are ethically negative since they denaturalize the meaning of human sexuality and the conjugal act. Right after that, we analyze some of the most frequent consequences of such methods: "embryonic mortality" and directly related to it exceeding "embryo freezing"; "the risks for the health", both of the newborn as well as that of the woman. All those are elements that the couple must take into consideration in order to make the freest and most responsible decision possible. Finally, we explain the "slippery slope" effect in the use of these techniques (medicine babies, babies a la carte, surrogate maternity and reproductive mercantilism): what was developed with a very specific aim in mind, to remedy the infertility problem, has definitely open new and important ethical concerns.

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Pardo Sáenz, J. M. (2012). The unknown face of in vitro fertilization. Medicina E Morale, 61(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/mem.2012.146

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