Embryo Adoption

Versions of this FilmLanguage (Type)
Embryo AdoptionEnglish (original)zum Film
Synopsis
A one-hour documentary that explores the pain, anxiety, fears, and unknowns of the ´new technology of human life.´ No one wants to belong to the ´infertility club´, but one in eight Canadian couples are unwilling members. Now some couples may have a way out. There are an estimated 200,000 frozen embryos in fertility clinics across the United States and thousands more in Canada that are not needed. They are ´leftovers´ or ´by-products´ from invitro fertilization. About 90% of these will remain frozen indefinitely, with couples paying a yearly storage fee. That´s because many of them don´t like the alternatives: anonymous donation to a fertility clinic, designating them for medical research or destroying them. But soon there may be a fourth alternative in Canada - embryo adoption. Embryo adoption is an explosive subject because of the moral and ethical issues involved. It’s also an unregulated industry. Embryo adoption has no legal standing and is not recognized by the courts. Bio-ethicists say; "There is more regulation about how much insulation there is in your microwave... than there is about frozen embryos..." This documentary examines the difficult questions confronting us; can the adoptive parents sue or give back the child if it is born with a disability? What happens if the genetic parents change their minds once the child is inseminated in the donor? Some say the issue will reach the boiling point when there is a court dispute, so far that hasn´t happened in this still emerging field. Those who are pro-choice are threatened by the view that these embryos are ´unborn children.’ Embryo adoption also begs the question, when does life begin?
Trailer not available yet
Science
Embryo
Fertility
Philosophy
Psychology
Moral
Runtime (in min.):60
Companies & Organizations
Production Company:

Joe Media

Discovery Health Canada

Slice

Keywords
Science; Embryo; Fertility; Philosophy; Psychology; Moral; Ethics; Adoption; Human Life; Health; Medical Science
Categories
Society & Social Life, Ethics & Philosophy, Moral Issues, Science, Research & Inventions, Biology, Man, Genetics, Health, Medical Science & Psychology, Psychology