Should parents or legislators and reproductive endocrinologists make the decision to stop the transfer of mosaic embryos?
Mosaic embryos are similar to the healthy embryos that have always been used for in vitro fertilization (IVF), but mosaic embryos contain a mixture of both abnormal and normal cells. One can be successfully implanted in the uterine wall and develop into a healthy fetus. It can go on to be a fully formed, healthy baby.
Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Mosaic embryos have a greater risk of miscarriage. Infants may also have a greater chance of being born with birth defects. Scientists aren't really sure how much of an increased risk there is, however. Plus, IVF has always been a difficult process with no guaranteed outcome.
Some say that the decision should be made by the potential parents. After all, we screen for Down syndrome and neural tube defects. Parents are given the option to terminate based on those findings. The problem is that as of right now, legislators and reproductive endocrinologists could make the decision to stop the transfer of mosaic embryos entirely. Whose decision should it be?