Parents Torn over Surplus Embryos
At least 400,000 embryos are frozen at clinics around the country, and many of their parents don't know what to do with them, The New York Times reported.
A survey of 1,020 patients at nine fertility clinics shows 43 percent do not want their embryos destroyed — yet 66 percent said they would allow their embryos to be destroyed for research. The survey is being published today in the journal Fertility and Sterility.
The survey suggests couples believe destructive embryonic stem-cell research is a worthy pursuit. In reality, it means the end of their young children's lives.
Ron Stoddart, executive director of Nightlight Christian Adoptions, said the results don't make any sense.
"People believe that embryonic stem cells hold the key to every cure for any disease known to mankind," he told Family News in Focus. "The reality is, there have been no cures (and) no treatments developed from embryonic stem cells. All of the advances have been made from adult stem cells."
Stoddart, who helps to find adoptive families for frozen embryos, said he tries to help couples understand that frozen embryos are living beings.
"When an embryo is created, that is life," he said. "That is the same life they used to build their family. The lives that are remaining frozen also deserve a chance at continued life.
"There are families ready and willing to accept these embryos, have them implanted and give birth to those adopted children."
Contact: Jennifer Mesko
Source: CitizenLink
Source URL: http://www.citizenlink.org
Publish Date: December 4, 2008
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