Abortions and cryonics.... I doubt that joint idea will ever get off the
ground. Most patients who have abortions have already gone through enough
psychological trauma prior to electing to have an abortion. Its not an easy
decision. I doubt that someone who wants to have an abortion would want to
add the tremendous, added psychic trauma of having the aborted embryo
'frozen'.
However, I am sure the 'pro-life' people would be excited about it so not
only can they say they saved 'another life', but that they could have the
abortee reminded everyday that, 'yes, there's the life you disallowed to
enjoy life.' The fact that the embryo could be viable 10, 20, or 100 years
down the line via nanotech will in no way mitigate the tremendous
psychological trauma already a part of anyone considering and electing to
have an abortion. And how do you think the recipients of incest-rape would
feel to have an embryo frozen? Imagine a 15 year old teenager who is raped
(and teenage rape is not rare in this country.) Just what she needs, to be
reminded of it the rest of her life.
I know it is easy to 'armchair' this topic, but I doubt you will get very
many women who have had an abortion who would even consider such cryonic
suspension.
Dr. Ed Reifman
Senior Associate/Foresight
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Jul 27 2000 - 14:02:22 MDT