Frozen in Time: The Controversy Over Unused Embryos in Italy
Controversy Surrounds Custody of Italy's Frozen Fertilized Eggs
In Italy's bustling fertility clinics, the number of frozen embryos from artificial fertilizations has been on the rise. Yet, many remain dormant in the deep-freeze, as laws prohibit their destruction or use for research.
Professor Edgardo Somigliana of Milan's Mangiagalli clinic, a leading neonatology institution, reveals that their lab alone holds around 4,500 frozen embryos. With approximately 55,000 frozen embryos scattered across Italy, some institutions even claiming up to 200,000, these embryos could potentially survive for several decades or even longer.
The Legal Labyrinth
With no straightforward solution in sight, Italian politics is grappling to find an answer. One possibility is the donation of these embryos to infertile couples. However, the term "adoption" is preferred. In reality, it would only be permissible for heterosexual couples. The journey to regulate the issue has proven arduous, with attempts to do so collapsing on multiple occasions.
A significant factor hampering progress is the influence of the Catholic Church, which holds an unwavering stance on life commencing at the moment of fertilization. This religious dogma causes ethical qualms in many individuals, even the non-believers, according to Professor Somigliana.
The problem of surplus embryos dates back to 2009, when all three fertilized eggs resulting from artificial fertilization were required to be implanted into the uterus. Following a change in the law, this number was reduced to one. If the first implantation was successful, many couples have chosen not to pursue further pregnancies, thus creating a vast reservoir of idle embryos.
Semantics Matter
Professor Somigliana asserts that the constant use of the term "embryo" over "fertilized egg" strikes a raw nerve, inciting moral debate. Once, he says, they simply discarded fertilized eggs no longer needed. Today, the mere thought of doing so sends a shiver down his spine.
A Global Dilemma
The issue is not unique to Italy. According to Alessandra Minello, a demographer and researcher at the University of Padua, it is hotly debated in the United States, particularly among ultra-conservative groups who equate the decision not to use surplus embryos with abortion.
Minello advocates for regulations akin to those in Spain, where couples must decide at the onset of treatment what will happen to any unutilized embryos. They may choose to use them later or donate them to heterosexual and homosexual couples as well as to singles.
Italy's Unresolved Childbirth Crisis
As the debate over embryo donation continues, Italy faces another pressing issue: child poverty. In 2023, births decreased by 12,110 from the previous year, amounting to a six-person drop per 1,000 inhabitants. With the population expected to decline to 46.1 million by 2080 and the average age rising to 50.8 years by 2050, Italy's looming demographic crisis poses a significant challenge.
Source: ntv.de
- Italy
- In Vitro Fertilization
- Religion & Ethics
Insights from Enrichment Data:
- Internationally, there is a call for more uniform regulations on gamete donation and the tracking of donor-conceived children, potentially impacting Italy's current and future policies.
- The EU does not impose strict limits on the number of children per donor, but individual countries like Italy can set their own limits.
- Various European nations are advocating for international limits on the number of children per sperm or egg donor, seeking to address psychosocial and ethical concerns.
- The Nordic National Ethics Councils suggest that European countries should collaborate to establish common policies on gamete donation and the tracking of donor-conceived children.
- Until comprehensive regulations are implemented, cryobanks are encouraged to set voluntary limits on the use of donated gametes to regulate procreation.
- In light of the international call for uniform regulations on gamete donation and tracking of donor-conceived children, Italy may need to reconsider its current policies regarding frozen embryos.
- The community policy on vocational training could be extended to include training programs for professionals in the field of reproductive medicine, addressing the ethical dilemma surrounding the management of unused embryos.
- As Italy grapples with a declining population, the vocational training of healthcare professionals in infertility and reproductive medicine could potentially contribute to addressing both the issue of unused embryos and the looming demographic crisis.
