The Chicago Tribune on Wednesday examined how antiabortion advocates who have spoken out against human embryonic stem cell research because they believe an embryo is a human being might next begin working to ban or restrict in vitro fertilization procedures. Some IVF opponents say the procedure involves the destruction of human life because often more embryos are created than can be implanted, resulting in the disposal of many unused embryos. "IVF requires killing," Illinois Right to Life Committee Executive Director Bill Beckman said, adding, "They choose which (embryos) to implant, and they create spares that will die." However, for many antiabortion advocates, protesting IVF is much less of a priority than working to ban abortion, euthanasia or embryonic stem cell research. In addition, antiabortion advocates support the use of IVF to help infertile couples conceive. Observers believe the procedure is too commonplace to be restricted or banned, the Tribune reports. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine estimates that one in every 100 children born in the United States is conceived through IVF (Peres, Chicago Tribune, 7/6).

Chicago Tribune

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