A court battle between a divorced couple over the future of their frozen embryos began Monday with an attorney for the former husband accusing the woman of using the dispute to get money.
Dr. Mimi Lee, 46, a pianist and part-time anesthesiologist, married Stephen Findley, a wealthy executive, five years ago. Shortly before the wedding, Lee learned she had breast cancer.
Unsure whether the disease would make it impossible for her to have children, the couple went to a fertility center, where Lee's eggs and Findley's sperm created five embryos, now frozen.
Findley filed for divorce two years ago and wants the embryos destroyed. Lee, now infertile, wants to implant the embryos into a surrogate and have a baby. Without the embryos, she will never have a child who shares her genes.
If the embryos are implanted and carry to term, the ex-husband becomes a father without consent. If the embryos are destroyed, the ex-wife is denied the deep need to procreate. The embryos themselves have issues either way. Modern biomedical ethics are complex.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday July 16 2015, @04:03PM
I know right, because you always hear about how children are starving in the streets in First World Countries. Oh..., right, You Don't, because we have things like Homeless Shelters, Food Banks, and Soup Kitchens. The main problem is that there is extreme poverty in areas where there isn't much else to do except have children and try to survive. Also, if you are in extreme poverty, having kids can spread the burden out. Assuming those kids make it to adulthood.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by Anal Pumpernickel on Thursday July 16 2015, @04:24PM
I know right, because you always hear about how children are starving in the streets in First World Countries. Oh..., right, You Don't, because we have things like Homeless Shelters, Food Banks, and Soup Kitchens.
I'm not quite seeing your point. It could be worse, so it's not bad? Interesting straw man you had there, as well.
We need a global population decline and a change in attitude. Reducing poverty will help with this, but that alone might not be good enough.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday July 16 2015, @04:57PM
My point is that reducing the population in First World Countries won't help the Countries in Extreme Poverty. Also, the countries in extreme poverty don't see a need to reduce their procreation.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by Anal Pumpernickel on Thursday July 16 2015, @04:59PM
We should try to help there as well, certainly. But I never suggested otherwise.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 18 2015, @11:59AM
I think it is disgraceful that supposedly first world countries need things like homeless shelters, food banks and soup kitchens. I think modern society still has a long way to go before it is truly civilised.