Abstract
Generations ago families experiencing infertility were without options, other than adoption. Today, couples facing infertility have an array of choices regarding ways to build a family. Artificial reproductive technologies (ART) and other associated therapies are often able to help parents realize the dream of having a biological child or experiencing pregnancy (Moore, U St Thomas JL & Pub Pol’y 1:100, 2007). While these ART advancements have helped a great number of men and women, this technology also has its drawbacks. One problem we are faced with today due to ART is how to dispose of the cryopreserved embryos left over from in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures.
Three years ago I had breast cancer. Faced with this news and knowing my husband and I wanted children I decided to go through IVF and freeze my embryos. Fortunately, I recovered from breast cancer and I now have two beautiful children. The problem is that I have five frozen embryos left over from my IVF treatment. My husband wishes to donate the extra embryos to research. However, I am deeply torn by this decision as I feel this would be murdering my unborn children. I believe the better decision is to donate their remaining five embryos to another couple. My husband, however, does not like the idea of having children genetically related to him raised by someone else. Sadly, this issue among others, has torn our family apart and my husband and I are now divorced. I filed a lawsuit to determine who gets the embryos but litigation has been slow. Even more tragic, during this process my husband was suddenly killed in a car accident. I have since implanted the frozen embryos and have a healthy beautiful boy, Aiden. Because of my husband’s tragic death and other financial hardships I am struggling to get by as a single mom. I filed for social security benefits for my children including Aiden. The government however, is now saying that Aiden is not entitled to social security since he was conceived after his father’s death. I wish I had known of the legal repercussions of IVF and freezing my embryos. While I have three beautiful children life is hard and I feel much of my hardship could have been avoided if I had been aware of the law in my state.
- Stacy, Adult Cancer Survivor
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Brock, D. (2012). The Legal Issue and of Assisted Reproductive Technologies. In: Quinn, G., Vadaparampil, S. (eds) Reproductive Health and Cancer in Adolescents and Young Adults. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 732. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2492-1_16
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