Question

Provide an ethical and legal analysis based on the facts. Your answer should identify the moral and legal issues in this dispute between James and Leslie Knox. Make your best argument supporting James and your best argument supporting Leslie.

During 15 years of marrige, James and Leslie Knox has not succeeded in having a baby. As a last resort, they tried in vitro fertilization. Doctors surgically removed nine eggs from Leslie and fertilized them with James sperm. The embryos were then placed into a freexer until proper time for them to be implanted into Leslies womb. In the meantime, James and Leslie cam eto realize that were marrige was going nowwhere, and they decided to get a divorce. The couple has no trouble at arriving at a settlement concerning the house, cars, bank accounts, and other possessions, but they cannot agree on the disposition of the frozen embryos. James is adamant about not wanting to have any childern with Leslie ans wants to have the embryos destroyed. Leslie, on the other hand, realizing sh eis getting older, thinks that the frozen embryos offer her the best chance of having a baby, and she wants them implanted.

Answer 1

Supporting James:

Since James doesn't want to have babies with Leslie , he suggests that the embryos be destroyed. Destroying the embryos would solve the problem of custody of the child legally once it is born. It is similar to aborting an unwanted child which is legally allowed. Morally, destroying the embryos will prevent the child from growing in a divorced home and with only one parent.

Supporting Leslie

Leslie wants a child and morally it is wrong to abort a child because it is considered similar to killing a life. Leslie feels that she won't be ably to conceive due to her age. Also it ls wrong to abort without permission of both the parents.