New Reproductive Technology :: Christine Overall Abortion Technology Essays

New Reproductive Technology The article by Christine Overall, "New Reproductive Technology," discusses the issue of abortion and the new technology involved in abortions. The article makes the case that the fetus is not in the ownership of the parents, therefore when an abortion takes place the embryo should be preserved for future use. This embryo could be used at a later time by the parents, or others can adopt it. The primary issue in this article is whether or not abortion is still wrong even if the fetus is preserved after it is removed from the body of the mother. In a traditional legal abortion the fetus is removed and put to death. With new technology the fetus can be preserved so that it can still produce a child at a later time or in another persons body. The issue of abortion is broken up into two aspects according to the author: (1) the expulsion of the fetus and (2) the death to the fetus. Because of these two aspects two rights are created: (1) the right of the mother to control her own body and (2) the right of the fetus to life. With new reproductive technology such as preserving the fetus it must be assumed that the fetus will survive. There is a very great chance that fetuses will not survive outside the body of the natural mother. The chance for survival has risen over the years but is still at about a twenty percent chance of survival. For this new technology to be very successful the chance of survival would have to be much higher. It is highly possible that something could go wrong causing the child to suffer. In the early stages of this new technology what would happen if something unexpected was to occur? Would the staff in charge of taking care of the fetuses be able to change settings on an instrument supporting the fetuses? In the rare event of a power outage or a natural disaster would a generator kick in fast enough to support these fetuses? These questions are all things that would have to be dealt with in the early stages of this new technology as well as in later stages. Supporting a life is not something that can be left unattended at any time.