Unenabled Embryo Use

Is the Human Zygote a Person?

“…Several letters to the editor in response to Guenin's argument, including one by this author, were published in the September, 2004 Mayo Clinic Proceedings . 4 I noted that the real issue is the ontological status of the zygote, since conception is the only reasonable moment of substantial change and all subsequent change (i.e., embryo, fetus, newborn, etc.) consists of growth and development, which is accidental change.…”

“…I also noted that the Vatican Document Donum Vitae (1987) explicitly and presciently rejected the argument from nonenablement, while affirming the human person as a substantial union of body and spiritual soul, the immediate creation of the spiritual soul by God, and the inviolability of the human person from the moment of conception. 5 Another respondent emphasized that the mother lacks the authority from God to donate an embryo for research. 6 A third respondent noted that aborted fetuses are unenabled and their tissue, along with that of other disadvantaged groups with limited abilities to form preferences, could also be exploited for research.…”