This is a question that is often in the news...and right now, will probably be brought up in some political debate. I personally am FOR stem cell research and I don't believe that a frozen embryo is a "baby", or even a "fetus" or for that matter a "person". (Which is a question that some states are putting on their ballots in November; is an embryo a person and if so shouldn't it have rights?) What I do believe is that embryos are 'maybe babies', made with the hope and love of the IP's, the expertise of the Reproductive Endocrinologist and Embryologist, the professionalism of the clinical staff and the care of the cryobank.... But they are only a thought and a prayer until they are transferred to a uterus where they actually have a chance to grow and become a "person"!
Here is an excerpt of an article I read recently on this very subject:
"Because infertility patients are the gatekeepers of these leftover embryos, it is important to understand their opinions, according to Dr. Tarun Jain, University of Illinois at Chicago assistant professor of reproductive endocrinology and infertility, clinical IVF director, and lead author of the study.
When asked if using leftover embryos for stem cell research should be allowed, 73 percent of the 636 respondents who stated a definitive opinion answered yes.
"Infertility patients, in general, are altruistic, and it makes sense that they would try to advance medicine and help others," said Jain.
African Americans and Hispanics were less likely to approve of using leftover embryos for stem cell research, compared with Caucasians. Patients younger than 30, Protestant, less wealthy and single were also less likely to support using leftover embryos for stem cell research."
I am not surprised at these statistcs....are you?