"Selective pregnancy reduction" is a medical procedure used to reduce a multiple pregnancy, often a multiple pregnancy induced by in vitro fertilization or drug therapy. In such instances, healthy embryos are sacrificed in order to maximize the chances of survival of the remaining embryos or to allow the mother to choose the number of babies she wishes to deliver. Physicians appear to rely on Roe v. Wade in assuming the legality of the procedure, although such an assumption may be erroneous. Rather than continue to implant an excessive number of pre-embryos, the American Medical Association and the Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology should adopt guidelines similar to those established by the Voluntary Licensing Authority in London, which limit the number to be inserted to a maximum of three. Careful ultrasound monitoring could ensure that no more than three embryos implant when fertility drugs are used. Such practices would help physicians avoid the many moral, ethical, legal, and philosophical problems caused by selective pregnancy reduction.
PIP: Infertility is estimated to affect 10-20% of all couples. Currently the medical professional can use either fertility drug therapy of in vitro fertilization to help couples to conceive. Selective reduction refers to the procedure of aborting 1 or more fetuses in a multiple pregnancy induced by fertility drugs or in vitro fertilization. Often times perfectly health embryos are sacrificed in order to improve the outcome(s) of the remaining fetus(s) or to allow the woman to decide on the number of children she wishes to have. Physicians rely upon Roe v Wade to legally justify this procedure; however, careful examination of the language of Roe reveals that it does not support this procedure. In Roe it states that unwanted children can be aborted at the discretion of the woman and her physician. However, it clear that women engaged on a fertility program, do want to have children. So the unwanted label does not apply to the multiple embryos. A possible alternative is for the American Medical Association and the Association of Obstetric and Gynecology should adopt guidelines similar to those established by the Voluntary Licensing Authority in London. These guidelines limit the number of inserted embryos to a maximum of 3. Careful ultrasound monitoring could ensure that no more than 3 embryos implant when fertility drugs are used. Such procedures would help doctors avoid the moral and legal problems caused by selective pregnancy reduction.