The Farming of Embryos
The AGE Thursday, August 29, 2002
Re the embryo debate, some commentators are creating the impression that there are only a few embryos involved, innocently harvested for purposes of conception - and wouldn't it be a shame to waste them?
But let's not kid ourselves. If use of embryos does save lives, and is legalised, the industry will grow. The delicate issue of whether particular embryos were generated for conception or manufacture will quickly disappear into the too-hard basket. Remember how abortion "if the mother's health was in danger" promptly became a full-blown industry providing abortion on demand?
Please let this decision be made with eyes open. What we are in fact discussing is the farming of embryos.
Philip O'Carroll