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From: msc@cmu-cs-k.ARPA (Murray Campbell)
Newsgroups: net.abortion
Subject: Hypothetical situation
Message-ID: <378@cmu-cs-k.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 25-Apr-85 12:14:21 EST
Article-I.D.: cmu-cs-k.378
Posted: Thu Apr 25 12:14:21 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 27-Apr-85 02:47:57 EST
Organization: Carnegie-Mellon University, CS/RI
Lines: 23

I would like to get opinions from people (especially those that
would make abortion illegal) on the following hypothetical
situation.  Apologies if it has been discussed before.

Suppose a woman and a man, unable to conceive by natural means,
decide to attempt to have a test tube baby (i.e. fertilization
in a test tube, followed by implantation in the woman).  They
find a doctor, and the fertilization is successful.  At this
point, the woman has second thoughts, and refuses to allow the
fertilized egg to be implanted in her body.  The doctor has not
prepared for this eventuality, and does not have the necessary
facilities to sustain the egg for more than a short while.  Which
of the following positions would you take?

(1) The baby's overriding right to life dictates that it be implanted
    in the woman, by force if necessary.
(2) Every attempt must be made to sustain the newly created life, as
    in the case of a premature baby.  If it dies, however, there is
    no fault on anyone's part.
(3) The fertilized egg is simply discarded, as in an abortion.
(4) Others?

		Murray Campbell (msc@cmu-cs-k)