[DarrenWright]

http://acpeds.org/?CONTEXT=art&cat=1...ISKIT=81704529

"The American College of Pediatricians (www.acpeds.org) calls for an end to embryonic stem cell research and recommends the exclusive support of already proven effective adult stem cell research."

[pickledpepperRN]

This is a very difficult topic.
I believe life begins at conception.
Many believe it is when the fetus can survive outside the womb.
Some religions believe God gives the soul with the first breath.

IVF with "leftover embryos" saddens me. What should be done with these frozen embyos?

Personally, if asked, I would encourage adoption.
The dear friends who did ask have not adopted and remain childless.

[swartzrn]

I too think it boils down to when an individual believes life begins. I believe whole heartedly that it begins at conception. This is based on religious beliefs that I have grown up with. I am also a BIG advocate of adoption.
With that said, I will also say that I enthusiastically believe in stem cell research but not on embryo's. Personally I do not understand why they would want to continue embryonic stem cell research if there have been "catastrophic results" as the article pointed out. I think adult stem cell results has the potential to prove very successful and advance medicine way beyond what we expect. My brother had an optic nerve that did not develop properly at birth and has had surgery to correct his vision but it is still not what nearly 20/20. I have read that stem cell research may even find a way to help patients such as him. I am ALL for anything like that--but not on embryo's when there are other options. I also believe that there are so many other ways to do research than to use the embryonic stem cells. There is such a big controversy concerning the leftover embryo's. It all boils down to what your personal beliefs are. I also have Christian friends who have conceived using IVF (after trying every way to conceive shy of IVF before and are thrilled.) I have no idea what they opted to do with the left over embryo's. Someone said you cannot condone IVF procedures and not condone embryonic stem cell research because without the IVF procedure, you would not have the embryo's. I guess that makes some sense.

Interesting article.

[pickledpepperRN]

I have very conflicting feelings regarding IVF and even abortion.
A doctor told me her children were conceived using IVF. Her kids were fertilized at the same time. They were born three years apart after the younger was "decanted". They even chose an opposite sex for the younger one.
I didn't tell her my beliefs. I don't unless asked.
It is the same for abortion.
But I chose med/surg as a new nurse because I didn't want to be confronted with assisting an abortion. And didn't want to be limited to working at Catholic hospitals only.

[swartzrn]

Our friends told us that they could "pick" the embryo's to implant.

[indigo girl]

1) I would like to see some of the studies or research that resulted in catastophic results rather than just accept a blanket statement. There are many reasons for research to produce unfortunate results. It would be interesting to know exactly what happened and why.

2) ...it also prolongs needless suffering by delaying the development of more promising adult stem cell treatments and cures,”
Exactly how is it delaying the development of adult stem cell tx? Pursuing embryonic research does not mean that adult stem cell research is not ongoing. This does not even make sense.

Obviously, this is an emotionally charged subject. The wording of the statement from this organization is cause for concern.
http://acpeds.org/?CONTEXT=art&cat=1...ISKIT=81704529

[HM2Viking]

The NYtimes had an article about removing 1 blastomere as a source for stem cells. It was nondestructive of embryos and yet opposed by the bush administration because of the remote chance of harm to the embryo. The article cited that this type of procedure had been done as a genetic testing procedure for genetic defects and that the children had grown to childhoos without subsequent problems from sampling a single blastomere.

I think that we need to take time to find nondestructive forms of testing that allows research to proceed from all ends.

[EricEnfermero]

Not to be confused with the American Academy of Pediatrics or the American Board of Pediatrics...

[Suesquatch]

Originally Posted by spacenurse

A doctor told me her children were conceived using IVF. Her kids were fertilized at the same time. They were born three years apart after the younger was "decanted". They even chose an opposite sex for the younger one.

Bye bye baby banting
Baby needs decanting....

[indigo girl]

Originally Posted by EricEnfermero

Not to be confused with the American Academy of Pediatrics or the American Board of Pediatrics...

Right. You might at first think that it was one of the above groups rather than a group that promotes certain conservative values. No offense to any conservative thinkers out there, BTW.

Their core values:
http://www.acpeds.org/?CONTEXT=art&c...KIT=2607905195

Their perspectives:
http://www.acpeds.org/?BISKIT=260790...EXT=cat&cat=14