Woman, 26, gives birth to baby who spent 24 years as frozen embryo

a reply to: Bone75

If these embryos are 100% viable then the questions must be asked. Are they legally considered a person at that point then? And are their keepers legally obligated to provide them with a way to mature and become a baby? And what about afterwards? Who's responsible for the child?

And then how does this reflect on the natural process? If a embryo outside the body has rights then does a natural embryo have the same rights?

Inquiring minds would like to know.

originally posted by: neo96
a reply to: TinySickTears

Same problems I usually have with modern science.

Improper use of it.

It's one thing for a woman to freeze embryos before a hysterectomy.

This is entirely different.

They have no idea what the long term psychological, and health effects are.

Women undergo hysterectomies because of pathological uterine and accessory organ dysfunction. They certainly aren't carrying embryos in there. It's not an elective surgery...the entire uterus and Fallopian tubes are removed and usually the ovaries. Perhaps in another country it might be common practice for a pregnant woman to have her embryos removed and then frozen...and then have her uterus removed to...what...implant the frozen embryos in someone else's uterus since hers is now absent? I don't really see how that would be more acceptable than this.

Perhaps you were confused and meant oocytes? That might make a little more sense medically, given the context of your statements.

What psychological and health issues concern you so? Did you have some new information to share regarding the correlation between freezing an undeveloped diploid organism and the psychological development of a future potential fetus? Perhaps you're also confusing an embryonic mass with a developing fetus?

originally posted by: NthOther
So why is it a life when it's frozen in a laboratory somewhere, but otherwise it's considered little more than a tumor?

More interesting question.

If the doctors had thrown out the embryo instead of re-planting it into some human woman, would it be considered "abortion" ?

After all, there was "conception", so who is responsible for ensuring that the conceived embryo should survive to term, and actually be born some day in a womb somewhere?

a reply to: dreamingawake

Wonder what that was like to be frozen for twenty five years?

I remember a dog story about a frozen pooch that died and was revived hours later after it fell thru the ice.

It was always cold after that, hated winter, shivered all the time. Somebody follow this kids development, see if he likes winter sports or the desert more.

Ice, Ice, baby.

Seems that deception is increasing. Some day nothing will be what it appears to be. I can see a sci-fi nightmare in the making in the future.

a reply to: dreamingawake

Thats the epitome of cool scifi reality.

Send embryos to other planets in lead lined capsules with generational caretakers. Land the ship, hatch the eggs, and colonize!

Do it.

Interesting replies all, thanks. I did imagine this coupled with the bio bag(lamb testing) alternative womb in the future.

pamela sargent - earthseed Book one
Describes exactly the process of Building a ship putting in artificial woms .
then as the ship nears ( 17 - 18 years to go to get to a star )
grow the kids raise the kids so when the ship gets there the kids are ready to brave a new world .

It is the best solution to sending Humans to another star as of well 20 years from now .
as for moral stuff who knows . The natural stuff now that is more important .
The baby hears moms heart beating for about 8 months hears moms voice for just as long ( and dads as well )
gets alot of stimulation from the out side world and when bron has already gained alot of knowledge .
Now take that away baby hears no voices just clicking worling machines baby gets no stimulation out side a lab .
My guess is the kid will have social issues ( as the kids in this ship had )

Heart beat add voices add be sure the kid gets what is natrial wile being a lab baby and maybe it mite work .
But still teh question of being raised by a machine you cant get around .