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Embryo screening during IVF, particularly through preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A), offers significant medical benefits but raises profound ethical questions. Here’s a balanced analysis of its pros, cons, and key bioethical concerns:
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– : Selecting chromosomally normal embryos improves implantation rates by up to 50%, reducing the emotional and financial toll of repeated IVF cycles.
– : Aneuploid embryos (with abnormal chromosomes) account for ~50% of miscarriages; screening minimizes this risk by identifying viable embryos.
– : Families with hereditary conditions (e.g., cystic fibrosis) can prevent passing these to children by screening embryos.
– : Single-embryo transfers become safer and more effective with genetic screening, lowering risks associated with twins/triplets (e.g., prematurity).
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– : Discarding embryos deemed “abnormal” conflicts with beliefs that life begins at conception. Critics argue this practice commodifies human life and risks eugenics by selecting traits like sex.
– : Technical limitations, such as mosaicism (mixed chromosomal cells), may lead to discarding viable embryos or transferring abnormal ones.
– : PGT-A adds ~$5,000 to IVF expenses, making it inaccessible for many.
– : Families face difficult decisions about which embryos to discard, intensifying the stress of infertility treatment.
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Bioethicist warns that secularized bioethics risks devaluing human dignity by treating embryos as commodities. He emphasizes:
– : Modern medicine’s focus on genetic “perfection” erodes respect for vulnerable lives, including embryos.
– : Selecting non-disease traits (e.g., intelligence, appearance) could exacerbate societal inequities and dehumanize reproduction.
– : The Church opposes embryo destruction, advocating for adoption of frozen embryos instead.
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While embryo screening enhances IVF outcomes, its ethical implications—particularly around human dignity and inequality—remain contentious. As Camosy argues, advancing technology must not overshadow the intrinsic value of every human life, regardless of genetic traits. Policymakers and families must weigh medical benefits against moral responsibilities to protect the vulnerable.
