In Vitro Fertilization, otherwise known as "IVF" for short, is one of the process's used when a couple is unable to conceive. This process is where the woman's eggs are removed and put in a laboratory culture dish along with the man's sperm for fertilization. Once this process is completed healthy embryos are put in the woman's uterus. This form of assisted reproductive technology(ART) is quite effective to many and is becoming better as we and technology improve over the years. Although this is so, with the improvements of in vitro fertilization, there are cases where it is being implemented in like embryo screening, where there is a possibility it can be used in controversial ways.
It is brought to my attention that embryo screening in society is seen as either a good or a bad thing, and is in fact a worrying topic as I read and analyzed the article titled, Agency Allows Broader Embryo Screening. The article focuses on how the use of in vitro fertilization can be used to test embryos for inherited forms of cancer for parents in the United Kingdom. This process is supported for reasons such as being of help to parents who can prevent any major lethal illnesses in their child. HFEA's in other words the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority chair Suzi Leather, mentions that their decision to authorizing embryo screening is only used and available to those who have history of cancer in the family. With this being said, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine deemed this "ethically acceptable" as it does not involve screening for sex or wanted traits.
The only problems regarding the whole matter of embryo screening is the worry of "designer babies" and how becoming it can be in the future where it is more advanced and is used in situations that are unethical, like the want of having a boy instead of a girl in some countries, and demands for certain wanted traits in the child. As said in the article by Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist, "controversy inevitably awaits", embryo screening may become somewhat of a problematic issue in the future.
Advances in this field is seen as promising, as it is effective to those who want to prevent major illnesses that will cause grief to their offspring. Although helpful in that sense, it is laden with ethical concerns, as there is fear of misuse in the process towards the embryo, to change the traits in to desired ones and sex of the offspring.
Accuracy, Credibility and Bais of the Article
In my opinion, I find that the article, Agency Allows Broader Embryo Screening is reliable. In the article it presents actual information, quotes and names from professionals and Laura Blackburn and Jocelyn Kaiser have both published several articles on the site. It's published on a site that focuses heavily and only on news involving science subjected articles/information. Their news is also frequent and up-to-date, the article itself was published in the 2000s and to this day continues to update more and more science related articles, research and topics. The site also has a legitimate magazine that centers on topics/news/issues revolving around science, called Science. It's rights are also reserved by The American Association for the Advancement of Science, which is stated to be the the world's largest general-science society on the page About Science & AAAS under the tab of About Us located on the site. In these cases, do I find that this article is indeed very much accurate and credible.
I find that the article is biased. Despite talking about the good there may be in embryo screening, most of the article was talking about the issues/problems that may come in the future for this process and what controversies it may bring.
Works Cited
Blackburn, Laura, and Jocelyn Kaiser. "Agency Allows Broader Embryo Screening - ScienceNOW."Science/AAAS | News - Up to the minute news and features from Science.. American Association for the Advancement of Science, 10 May 2006. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. .
