Term 'embryo adoption' is misleading, medical group says

In recent years, some private adoption agencies have promoted "embryo adoption" services in which people can take possession of donated embryos and use them in concert with fertility treatments to become pregnant. But a major medical group today blasted the term "embryo adoption," calling it inaccurate and misleading.

The position paper from the ethics committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine says that the traditional model of adoption involves a legal process to establish parentage of infants or older children and should not be confused with the transactions involving donated embryos. The group said the preferred term is "embryo donation," because it is a medical intervention that only become possible through medical technology.

Some adoption agencies that deal with embryos require prospective parents to divulge information on their religious beliefs or sexual orientation. Use of the adoption model places an "inappropriate burden" on patients seeking an embryo donation, the statement said.

"Embryo donation is an important therapeutic option for infertile patients," said Dr. Robert Brzyski, chairman of the ASRM Ethics Committee. "Home visits, judicial review and other adoption procedures are not necessary and not appropriate for a patient whose case entails what is most accurately characterized medically as a tissue donation."

Embryo donation, however, is regulated similarly to any medical procedure that uses donated tissues or organs.

The statement is published in the December issue of the journal Fertility & Sterility.

-- Shari Roan

Photo: A petri dish containing embryos suspended in a growth media. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Sheila R.]

I couldn't disagree more with ASRM's point of view that using the term "Embryo Adoption" is misleading, when one places their embryos for adoption and/or donation. They are only considering one side of the equation; that of the donating person and/or couple; when in reality, there are more people and/or "potential" people to consider. I know if I were a donated embryo and grew into a full-functioning adult, I would have rather known that I was lovingly placed for adoption vs. donated; as in donating your clothes to the Goodwill or donating blood. Children resulting from Embryo Adoption/Donation need to be factored into that equation. Our society is already burdened with enough people who struggle with self-image and identity crisis issues; I think it's irresponsible for such a large organization to be narrow-minded and only look at one point of view vs. the bigger issue at hand. Children resulting from such a narrow-minded point of view are going to struggle with their identity and the sheer lack of regard for their personhood. Embryo Adoption/Donation is complicated and should be carefully considered by all parties involved. All sibling ties should be considered, how the donating/adopting couple will handle future contact from these "potential" children, and how it will impact both the Adopting/Donating family as a whole. Reproductive Clinics nationwide have seriously let down their IVF patients, by not fully disclosing all the potential scenarios that they could one day face; such as having to place their embryos for adoption or donation. It's not right or fair that after struggling with years of infertility, that they should blindly be placed in the position of having to make such difficult decisions with regard to their excess embryos. ASRM has tunnel vision in terms of the point they are trying to make that Embryo Adoption is misleading. They are only considering one group of people...those who are of the same mindset that embryos are nothing more than human tissue. I would like to say they certainly don't represent or speak for me and I couldn't disagree with them more.