Are all leftover IVF embryos discarded as some claim?
Proponents of federal funding for more ESCR argue that human EScells hold the most promise for the treatment of 100 million patients. Although they claim that it is unethical to create human embryos for the sole purpose of destructive research, they argue it is ethical to fund research on leftover human embryos that would otherwise be discarded. They are referring here to embryos created by in vitro fertilization (IVF) that have not been implanted to produce children. Proponents argue that we should fund research on unused IVF embryos, estimates of which ranged from 100,000 to 200,000. In 2003, a Rand report claimed that there are an estimated 400,000 frozen embryos in storage in the United States. This report generated a renewed call for President Bush to expand his policy to fund research on these new embryos, especially since, according to ESCR proponents, they will be destroyed anyway. However, according to the Rand report, 87% of the 400,000 frozen embryos are destined for later i
