Case Study: In Vitro Fertilization

INTRODUCTION Infertility has no limits, existing within cultures and social classes throughout the world. Infertile couples can often experience feelings of disbelief, shame, jealousy and anger (Tulppala, 2007). Tulppala states that nearly 15% of all couples have infertility problems at some point in their lives. The couple in the scenario above is no exception. As this husband and wife face the challenges associated with infertility, they resort to a process referred to as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). In doing so, the wife borrows an egg from her sister, which would be inserted into her uterus. In exchange, the sister receives a needed kidney from the wife. And in some peculiar way, the trade may be deemed reasonable by many. However, whereas the sister’s kidney transplant was a success, the egg does not attach to the wife’s uterus. Down one kidney and still not pregnant, the wife suddenly discovers that her sister is now pregnant with her husband’s child. A web of moral complexity emerges as the situation is analyzed. And depending on the ethical school of thought used - virtue-based, duty-based, outcome-based, and care-based - the scenario above can take

In this case, the sister and husband act were wrong, in which they fail to show duty-based ethics. Additionally, you should always do the right thing even if it produces adverse consequences. In duty-based ethical reasoning, the sister and husband knew that the wife failed to have a baby, so they allowed certain actions for personal wants and desires. Although, as her sister and husband they betrayed the wife by committing adultery, it was her sister’s duty to keep a promise which was an egg that would give her a child in exchange for a kidney. Perhaps the sister and the husband choose to do the wrong thing for a good consequence such as giving the wife a baby it would still be wrong regarding duty-based