In vitro fertilization, abortion, and women’s health

Main Article Content

Daniel Dykhuizen

Abstract

The curtailing (banning) IVF (in vitro fertilization) was a logical decision made from a bad but clear, decisive definition of what it means to be human. This definition of being human starts from the observation that each human is a unique fusion of a male gamete and a female egg. If we make the assumption that genetics determines humanness, then each zygote is a human and should be granted the rights of humans. Since the balls of cells derived from a zygote but before implantation in the uterus is the primary product of IVF, then IVF should be curtailed. The details of pregnancy are outlined in this article in order to decide when the right to life should be granted to zygotes and embryos. It is proposed that early in pregnancy, up to about week 18-20, no rights should be granted to the fetus and women should be allowed to have an abortion as they wish. After this time, abortions should be restricted to medical conditions associated with the fetus or to preserve the life, health, and fertility of the woman.  At 35th week of pregnancy, there should be a ban on abortions, since the fetus can nearly live apart from the mother. This proposal is designed to give the fetus increasing rights as it develops.

Article Details

How to Cite
DYKHUIZEN, Daniel. In vitro fertilization, abortion, and women’s health. Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 12, n. 7, july 2024. ISSN 2375-1924. Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/5492>. Date accessed: 08 dec. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v12i7.5492.
Section
Research Articles

References

1. Chandler K and Madhani A. Warning of the impact of fertility treatments in Alabama rush in after frozen embryo ruling. February 21, 2021. Associated Press.
2. Chandler, K and Mulvihill G. What’s next after the Alabama ruling that counts IVF embryos as children? February 22, 2024, Associated Press.
3. Fortin J and Graham R. What to know about the Southern Baptists’ vote opposing I.VF. June 13, 2024. The New York Times.
4. Fetal-development-stages-of-growth, 2024, web site from the Cleveland Clinic.com, June 3, 2024
5. Hawthorn N. The Scarlet Letter, A Romance. 1850 Ticknor
and Fields, Boston

6. Lewis, CS. The Chronicles of Narnia. 1994 Harper Collins, New York
7. Moore, KL, Persaud TVN, and Torchia, MG. The Developing Human 11th edition, 2019 Saunders, New York
8. Stump J. The sacred chain: How understanding evolution leads to a deeper faith. 2024 HarperOne, New York.
9. Wadman M. Alabama IVF ruling may halt uterus transplants: Scientists fear wider research impacts if other states label frozen embryos “children”. Science 2024;383:936-837.