IVF
Philosophy of Medical Ethics series
Program Support Notes by:
Laura Beilby
Teacher of Philosophy and Religion
Produced by:
Classroom Video Ltd
Commissioning Editor:
Dee Powell
© Classroom Video Ltd 2011
Reproducing these support notes
You may download and copy this resource pack
for use with your classes in an educational
setting only. All copyright remains the property
of Classroom Video Ltd.
Producer:
Thomasina Gibson
Executive Producer:
Simon Garner B.Ed, Dip Management
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IVF
For Teachers
Brief Summary of Program
This program investigates the range of issues surrounding IVF treatment, considering both religious
and moral perspectives, alongside the current legislation and practices in Britain and around the
world. It looks at what IVF is and why an individual/couple might seek IVF treatment. It also includes a
case study of a couple who have had IVF treatment.
Other Background Information for Teachers
IVF (in vitro fertilization) is a medical procedure used to help some infertile couples. A woman's
ovaries are stimulated to produce multiple eggs which are fertilized with her partner's sperm. This
produces several fertilized embryos, some of which are placed in her womb.
Although IVF has been around for over 30 years it is still a matter of debate today for a variety of
reasons. With IVF clinics, the ethical questions arise from the fact that new lives are being created by
the doctors and nurses involved. The welfare of the unborn child must be considered. Should
unmarried couples get treatment? What about those where one partner has children from a previous
relationship?
Other questions can also arise, such as whether parents should be able to select the gender, eye color,
hair color or any other feature of their child. This can include selecting children in order for them to be
suitable as donors (bone marrow, kidney) for older siblings. These issues are not dealt with by
individual ethics committees but are instead decided by the HFEA (Human Fertilization and
Embryology Authority). This government organisation inspects and regulates fertility clinics in the UK.
Curriculum Links
NQ Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, Higher RMPS (SQA)
• Morality in the Modern World – Medical Ethics
NQ Advanced Higher RMPS (SQA)
• Bioethics
The Beginning of life - Treatment of embryos, Genetic engineering
OCR - G572: AS Religious Ethics Applied Ethics - topics on Euthanasia, Genetic Engineering, Embryo
Research, The Right to a Child.
EDEXCEL - AS Unit 2: Religious Studies — Investigations Area C: The Study of Ethics Medical Ethics
AQA GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES Topic 1 Religious Attitudes to Matters of Life (Medical Ethics)
OCR – GCSE - 3.22 Unit B603: Ethics (Relationships, Medical Ethics, Poverty and
Wealth)
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IVF
Other Useful Resources
Books
An Introduction to Philosophy and Ethics, Mel Thompson
Hodder and Stoughton, ISBN 0 340 87642 5
Beliefs, Values and Traditions, Ann Lovelace and Joy White
Heinemann, ISBN 0 435 30261 2
Contemporary Moral Issues, Joe Jenkins
Heinemann, ISBN 0 435 30309 0
Ethical Studies, Robert A Bowie
Nelson Thornes, ISBN 0 7487 5798 8
Issues of Life and Death, Michael Wilcockson
Hodder & Stoughton, ISBN 0 340 72488 9
Making Moral Decisions, Joe Walker
Hodder Gibson, ISBN 0 340 80203 0 (Support Edition ISBN 0 340 80203 0)
Religion and Society, Victor W Watton
Hodder & Stoughton, ISBN 0 340 79967 6
Truth, Spirituality and Contemporary Issues, Lesley Parry
Hodder & Stoughton, ISBN: 0 340 85034 5
Websites
www.bbc.co.uk/religion
www.humanism.org
www.srtp.org.uk
www.hfea.gov.uk
www.bma.org.uk
www.nhs.uk/video/pages/medialibrary
www.nhs.uk/conditions/ivf/Pages/Introduction.aspx
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8401770.stm
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/308662.stm
www.srtp.org.uk/srtpage3.shtml
openlearn.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3027
www.hfea.gov.uk/133.html
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IVF
For Students
Initiate Prior Learning
1.
Begin by getting pupils to define the following words:
Fertility
Infertility
Family
IVF
2.
In small groups get pupils to discuss their future hopes and expectations about the type of
family they want to have. They may consider some of the following questions:
Do you want to get married?
Do you want children? If so, how many?
Would they like boys or girls?
What are some of the options if they were unable to conceive children naturally? (They might
suggest adoption, IVF, fostering, not having children)
What might they do if they were having difficulties conceiving?
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IVF
Active Viewing Guide
Whilst viewing the program, ask students to answer the following questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
What important event happened in 1944?
What is IVF?
Women with what problem were most likely to get IVF treatment in the past?
Where in the world is there the highest proportion of private fertility clinics per capita?
Spain does not have a shortage of egg donors, why is it thought that this is the case?
Why is IVF not recommended for women over the age of 42?
What are two different Christian perspectives on IVF?
What are the requirements for IVF to be accepted according to Islam?
Do Hindus agree with IVF treatment?
When in the UK can couples select the sex of their babies?
What does HFEA stand for?
Who is Louise Brown?
Does IVF always work?
Suggested Answers:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
The first human egg was fertilized in a laboratory creating a human embryo
The egg is fertilized outside the body creating an embryo and then it is implanted in the
womb.
Those with blocked fallopian tubes.
Israel
They pay the donors for their eggs.
The chances of a successful conception are too low.
The Catholic position - Life begins at conception and thus IVF goes against God’s will.
The Anglican position – It enables families to experience the joy of childbirth/having
children, but it is not necessarily everyone’s right. It is generally accepted.
That it is for a married couple and that the child is biologically the child of the parents.
Absolutely
If they have a disease that is specific to a sex, they can select the sex of their baby to avoid
passing on this disease.
The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority
The World’s first Test-Tube Baby – the first baby born via IVF
No, couples may have a number of cycles of IVF and still never conceive.
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IVF
Ask students to prepare a table like the following (or provide them with a copy of the one below)
and complete it whilst watching the program:
RELIGION
Christianity
VIEWS ON IVF
Catholic:
Anglican:
Islam
Judaism
Hinduism
Sikhism
Buddhism
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IVF
Extension Activities
1. Discussion questions:
• According to national statistics, one of every six couples will experience difficulty
achieving pregnancy. What are some reasons such couples might choose in vitro
fertilization? What are some reasons that they might not?
• Embryos created by in vitro fertilization can be frozen for later implantation. What
should be done with embryos if the donor mother decides she cannot use them or
prefers not to use them? Do you think it is ethical to sell them? Why or why not? Who
has the right to decide what to do with the frozen embryos?
• When embryos are created in a laboratory, who owns them? What if the donor parents
divorce? Do the embryos become the property of the laboratory? How could such a
dilemma be resolved?
• In vitro fertilization often produces multiple embryos that are implanted in the uterus.
If more than one embryo "takes," is selective abortion acceptable for the purpose of
reducing the number of embryos so that the remaining embryos have an increased
chance of survival?
• Louise, the first "test-tube baby," was born in 1978. How do you think it would feel to
be the first baby conceived by IVF? Do you think it has had an effect on her life?
• Do you think a child should be told that he or she was conceived through IVF? What
are the reasons to reveal this information? What are the reasons to withhold it?
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IVF
2. Look through the facts about IVF below.
Highlight the facts you already know in yellow.
Highlight the facts you are most surprised by in pink.
Scientific:
Infertility is the inability to get pregnant (conceive).
1 in 7 couples in the UK has trouble conceiving.
IVF is successful in only 22% of cases (chances increase with 2 or more cycles).
IVF involves: i) removing some of the woman’s egg cells, ii) fertilizing them with sperm to create
embryos in a laboratory, and iii) implanting the embryos in the woman to carry pregnancy.
Legal
Clinics must decide if couples will be suitable parents before providing treatment.
Since 2005, eggs and sperm cannot be donated anonymously.
If one partner removes their consent to use their eggs/sperm, the embryos must be destroyed.
Political
From April 2005, the UK government advised that all eligible couples should receive one cycle of
treatment on the NHS.
Waiting times for treatment vary across the UK.
In England and Wales, the suggested age limit for women receiving IVF is 40 years old.
Economic
In 2005, the cost of one cycle of IVF was £2771.
Drugs to support the treatment cost an extra £1000.
In 2005, only 25% of IVF treatment was funded by the NHS.
Social
Some pro-life supporters disagree with destroying embryos that are not used in treatment.
Some religious leaders believe we shouldn’t interfere with natural reproduction.
Many women are waiting until they are older to have children, when their fertility is lower, and it is
more difficult to conceive.
“Designer babies” is a term used by the media. It describes an embryo chosen for specific
characteristics or genetic traits.
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IVF
3. Your task:
You are members of an advisory group. Resources are limited. You must prioritize who should
receive IVF treatment on the NHS. You must consider the welfare of the child above all else.
You must choose 3 families who will receive treatment and 3 families to reject, then give your
reasons.
Family A
Mr and Mrs A are in their mid thirties and are
unemployed.
They come from large families and
desperately want children of their own.
They received one cycle of IVF on the NHS
and spent their life savings on a second cycle.
Both were unsuccessful.
They cannot afford to pay for this treatment
privately again.
Family B
Miss B is single and in her late forties.
She is a successful business-woman.
She always intended to have children, but
never met the right man.
She has tried insemination with donor sperm
but did not conceive.
Miss B would like IVF to try IVF treatment
again with donated sperm.
Family C
Mr and Mrs C have been married for 2 years.
Mr C is in his mid forties. Mrs C is thirty.
He has one son from a previous marriage
who lives with them.
They have been trying for a child for 3 years,
but with no success.
Family E
Mrs E is a 35 year old widow.
Mr E died of cancer, but froze a sample of his
sperm before he died.
Mrs E has a good job that pays well.
She is a smoker.
Mrs E would like to have IVF with husband’s
frozen sperm to have the baby she has
always wanted.
Family D
Mr and Mrs D are in their early twenties and
have been married for five years.
Mr D previously decided he did not want any
children, so he had a vasectomy which
prevents him having children.
They now both want children.
Mr D has tried, unsuccessfully, to have the
vasectomy reversed.
They would now like to have IVF treatment
using donor sperm.
Family F
Mrs F and Mrs F are a gay couple and have
been together for ten years.
They are in their mid thirties.
Mrs F’s male friend has offered to donate
sperm so the couple can have a child.
They would like to use IVF treatment to
fertilize their eggs before implantation of
embryos into one of them.
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