I must confess that the phenomenon of embryo adoption and its promotion by the Religious Right in America was completely new to me until Bush appeared at a press conference surrounded by the proud mothers of former embryos. Now Slate enlightens us on the ins and outs:
This latest twist in what you might call embryo politics is emblematic of the incoherence and unusual alliances that prevail on a reproductive frontier unfamiliar to most Americans. The president’s baby-cuddling highlights the willingness of the conservative right, which normally opposes assisted reproductive technologies as a step on the slippery slope to abortion, to harness IVF to satisfy its own anti-embryo-research agenda when it needs to. Meanwhile, the fertility industry finds itself counting on unlikely allies in a battle against often inscrutable FDA policies. And for a public that may well have never heard of embryo “adoption,” the president’s photo op opened a window onto a niche of fertility medicine that is booming, rather bizarre, and all but uncontrolled.
“Happily married Catholic couple without children seeking donor embryos,” reads one posting on a Yahoo! group called SnowBabies, a kind of exchange mart for people seeking to get or give away frozen embryos. The posting goes on to explain how this truly unfortunate couple went through fertility treatment after fertility treatment: how they conceived twins, which were born premature and, tragically, died; how the mother’s eggs are now deemed too old for a successful pregnancy; and how the two of them “desperately want to ‘be pregnant’ again and experience what we feel we have been cheated out of?Äîa full-term pregnancy and a baby to hold in our arms once again.” There are many other postings, some from couples who have finished treatment and now have excess frozen embryos; most from infertile people seeking precious leftovers before they get discarded by couples who are ready to stop paying “storage fees.”
In true Republican fashion, it’s all being handled by private entreprise, creating a burgeoning market in embryo brokers.
Who knows? Maybe one day a former embryo could grow up to be President.
Are gay or lesbian couples allowed to adopt embryos?
Are gay or lesbian couples allowed to adopt embryos?
Oooh! Nice one, Kim.
I reckon you need only wait 1 week before we hear about it.
I don’t see a problem with embryo donation, even if it is uncontrolled.
I don’t see a problem with embryo brokers either.
Should I, Mark?
However, the second they prevent lesbians doing it…..
Oooh! Nice one, Kim.
I reckon you need only wait 1 week before we hear about it.
I don’t see a problem with embryo donation, even if it is uncontrolled.
I don’t see a problem with embryo brokers either.
Should I, Mark?
However, the second they prevent lesbians doing it…..
I don’t have a problem with it, Harry, I just find it extremely weird. There’s also the dissonance involved in the usual opposition to IVF procedures from the Religious Right and saying “hey, if fertility treatments are happening, let’s adopt out the embryos”. I suppose it’s consistent in a way, but it doesn’t bear close scrutiny!
I don’t have a problem with it, Harry, I just find it extremely weird. There’s also the dissonance involved in the usual opposition to IVF procedures from the Religious Right and saying “hey, if fertility treatments are happening, let’s adopt out the embryos”. I suppose it’s consistent in a way, but it doesn’t bear close scrutiny!
I can see the Catallaxy solution now. Reproduction to be made competitive by market mechanisms. De-regulate the bonk industry. Embryos on the stock market, a race to the bottom on price. Let freedom reign!
I can see the Catallaxy solution now. Reproduction to be made competitive by market mechanisms. De-regulate the bonk industry. Embryos on the stock market, a race to the bottom on price. Let freedom reign!
If I can be really pedantic for a moment, I’m a proud mother of a former embryo. As are all mothers (well most mothers). The labels they come up with are just ridiculous. As to whether gay and lesbian couples would be allowed to adopt an embryo, I’m not holding my breath (I believe that they should be allowed personally). These people have an amazing capacity for making rules that suit themselves and their beliefs but shoulder out anyone not exactly like them.
If I can be really pedantic for a moment, I’m a proud mother of a former embryo. As are all mothers (well most mothers). The labels they come up with are just ridiculous. As to whether gay and lesbian couples would be allowed to adopt an embryo, I’m not holding my breath (I believe that they should be allowed personally). These people have an amazing capacity for making rules that suit themselves and their beliefs but shoulder out anyone not exactly like them.
Culture of Life Swapmart, coming to a car boot sale near you!
“desperately want to ‘be pregnant’ again and experience what we feel we have been cheated out of—a full-term pregnancy”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. Never mind the eighteen years or so of actual parenting, or raising a decent human being, or anything like that.
Culture of Life Swapmart, coming to a car boot sale near you!
“desperately want to ‘be pregnant’ again and experience what we feel we have been cheated out of—a full-term pregnancy”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. Never mind the eighteen years or so of actual parenting, or raising a decent human being, or anything like that.
Probably more like 25 years of actual parenting, these days, miss p. Or at least that’s the age Howard expects the kiddies to stay with the parents before they can get the pittance of Newstart as opposed to the insult of Youth Allowance. Unless they went to a private school of course. As we all know, impoverished working class parents mortgage their second SUV to give the kiddies a good chance to get bullied by the kids of the elite.
Probably more like 25 years of actual parenting, these days, miss p. Or at least that’s the age Howard expects the kiddies to stay with the parents before they can get the pittance of Newstart as opposed to the insult of Youth Allowance. Unless they went to a private school of course. As we all know, impoverished working class parents mortgage their second SUV to give the kiddies a good chance to get bullied by the kids of the elite.
Can I keep my adopted embryo in a box?
Can I keep my adopted embryo in a box?
Have you seen Boxing Helena, Rex?
Have you seen Boxing Helena, Rex?