Adopting.org Discussion Forums

New programs allow previously frozen or made-to-order embryos to be legally adopted. Learn about the mechanics, common questions, and issues, including ethical, legal, and religious considerations.

Continue reading Embryo Adoption

The advances that medical science has made in recent years continue to astound me, and I had no idea that embryo adoption was possible or even occurring. Still, it brings up interesting ethical questions, besides and beyond just those mentioned in the article (the right to life issue, the babies without sex concept). What particularly comes to mind is the recent debate over embryonic stem cell research. If the egg donors give their remaining embryos up for adoption or for medical research and make it clear they want both, then who makes the decision which are used for research and which are adopted? Similarly, with all the waiting children out there, it seems almost unfair to choose an embryo over a child already living and breathing and in need of a nurturing and loving home. This is certainly a hot topic, even if you leave religion and politics out of it completely (which are certainly impossible to remove from the issue entirely, as it is fueled so strongly by both). I wonder if anyone has had experience with adopting embryos, or knows of cases in which this has occurred, and what the decision was based on, what opposition was met, etc.

Embryo adoption is a wonderful idea! For those couples who are not able to get pregnant on their own, this can be a miracle maker for them. Many embryos are left unused after the couples get pregnant. These embryos can give couples hope that they may not have otherwise. Another thing to take into consideration, however, is that it will no longer take two to get pregnant and this will allow homosexual couples to get pregnant. I am sure that this issue is going to become a hot button issue with religious and ethical groups in the near future.