I know what you mean by the daunting difficulties of adoption. We went through a very frustrating process with it, and finally adopted from Russia. The cost? I always tell people "As much as the new siding and windows on our house," which gives them a ballpark figure.
It's very understandable why people are tempted to do IVF, but it's really morally unjustifiable. It demeans the beginnings of life into a commercial transaction and a lab project. The law has already ruled (in the Maryville case) that the embryos are property: the first time human beings have been considered "property" since the Civil War.
I understand that. I don't get the objection to multiple fertilization as long as the parents is planing on having them implanted until they are all born.
Most of the time when you are dealing with female fertility issues you are not going to get that many eggs to fertilize.
In the case of male fertility issues I understand they fertilize only some they don't want to have more then can be reasonably carried to term and the rest are frozen. I will admit I don't know that many people in the industry but the ones I do know are quite careful about making sure that the embryos are not discarded but have every chance to grow and live.
There are other clinics that have no problem killing the babies for whatever reason. They are an entirely different kettle of fish.
It demeans the beginnings of life into a commercial transaction and a lab project.
I understand your feeling but have to disagree. It does not demean any more then having a hospital delivery, which is also a commercial transaction, demeans the birth.
The law has already ruled (in the Maryville case) that the embryos are property: the first time human beings have been considered "property" since the Civil War.
Sadly no. People have been considered property for one reason or another many times since the civil war. We move away from the idea and then backslide rather often.