We have read recently that Malta has opposed a proposal for the funding of research involving the destruction of embryos. Well done, Malta! – a case of being consistent and true to our laws and our people.
The science of embryology defines the start of human life as at the moment of fertilisation. Embryos are human lives albeit in their earliest form and by virtue of being so, deserve protection and respect from conception. They should not be manipulated or frozen, nor destroyed in embryo research.
Today technology allows us to see the development of human life from the very beginning. It is now possible to see the early growth of the human embryo on CCTV via an embryoscope.
It is a contradiction to hail the progress and reliability of science on one hand, while on the other ignore the scientific fact that there is a new life.
Unfortunately, in many countries embryos are being treated as a means to an end. When we fail to defend the most vulnerable in society such as unborn children, this is not progress. Malta should be vigilant in this respect.
We need to strive to keep our own values – we need to have legislation in place to regulate science, but in the process we should not trade our values regarding life. Weneed legislation to regulate artificial reproductive technologies in Malta, but we can do this without embryo freezing. There should be no compromise on the value of human life.
The freezing of ova (oocyte vitrification) avoids the ethical, legal and moral problems associated with embryo freezing and has the same success rate. Science without an ethical compass to keep it in check risks exploiting man.
Our laws should reflect respect for human life in all its stages, from conception to natural death. Human dignity should be the priority in all aspects of healthcare and biomedical research. There are too many examples in the dark history of humanity where science was unrestrained and human beings were used as a means to an end.
The embryo may be a microscopic human being, that we are not yet able to see and relate to, but he or she is definitely human. We would find it unacceptable to harm a child, or a newborn baby.
The embryonic phase is but a stage in our life cycle as is childhood, adulthood and old age. The right to life is an absolute and is the same in all the stages of our lives. When at the limits of life, in the beginning and in the end as well as in disease or disability, human rights and human dignity need to be respected even more. It is our duty to have laws that defend human life when it is most frail.
In a landmark ruling in October 2011, when deciding on the Brustle case, the European Court of Justice condemned the use of patents on embryos, and stated in unequivocal terms that human life begins at conception and that the embryo merits protection from that early stage. If the European Court of Justice wants to be consistent, why does it not protect the embryo from conception in all instances?
In Malta at present we do not have embryo selection, embryo freezing or abortion included as part of our best medical practice protocols and we are proud of this… In this regard we do not want to be like our European or American counterparts – we can learn from their mistakes.
Malta has a track record for defending life, for protecting the unborn, for treasuring children as part of the family.
An embryo is not a commodity, the embryo is not an object, but a human being. When we talk about embryos we are talking about human lives.