Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome Case Study

Ethical Questions The procedures for human in vitro fertilization were developed by a physiologist, Dr. Robert Edwards, and Dr. Patrick Steptoe, a gynecologist . The first “test tube” baby, Louise Brown, was born in 1978. One of the two surviving scientists, Dr Robert Edwards, was awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Medicine. Their research was the basis for scientists to isolate embryonic stem cells. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) includes both in vitro fertilization (IVF), used to conceive Louise Brown, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which was developed in the 1990's to treat male infertility (Maher, E.R. Human Molecular Genetics, 2005, Vol. 14, Review Issue 1 R133–R138). Today, ART accounts for “1-2% of births in developed countries” (Maher, E.R. Human Molecular Genetics, 2005, Vol. 14, Review Issue 1 R133–R138). However, recent reports correlate ART with imprinting disorders (Maher,E.R. 2005. Human Molecular Genetics. Vol. 14:R133-138). Furthermore, since ART is less than 30 years old, there is a small but possible risk that “IVF could cause subtle genetic or cellular changes that might manifest as cancer or some other disease only later in life” (Pewell, K. 2003. Nature 422: 658-658). This uncertainty has led some researchers to call for epidemiological studies on thousands of children conceived through ART with monitoring occurring at regular intervals throughout their lives. Such a study would cost many millions of dollars. Argumentation structures: 1.State the ethical issue: 2.Identify the stakeholders (must be more than one). 3.What are your opinion/ideas/solutions of the issue. 4.State alternate opinion/ideas/solutions of the issue. 5.What is your compromise between your views and alternate views? 6.What are short-term and long-term consequences of your proposed compromised? Use all the argumentation structures to debate: Should ART be restricted to only federally funded and regulated centers that include research into the safety of ART as a top priority, or should commercial centers, continue to be allowed to operate with minimal governmental regulation? Whether ART is performed in federally funded or commercial centers, should any epidemiological studies be done, regardless of funding sources, to assess the long-term health impact on children conceived through ART? Cite two Catholic Social Teaching Principles to support your argument (exclude principle of “Human Dignity.”) (see attachment)