The ethics of ex utero research on spare 'non-viable' IVF human embryos

In this paper, the focus is not on some particular developmental feature of the human embryo, but rather on the embryo's potential for development tout court. To this end, the moral relevance of the difference between human embryos that have the potential for continued human growth and development and human embryos that do not have this potential is explored and a distinction between viable and non-viable IVF human embryos is introduced. This is followed by a discussion of what is morally wrong with killing to show that none of the concerns associated with the act of killing apply to the destruction of non-viable IVF human embryos. On this basis, it is argued that scientifically and ethically sound research on spare non-viable IVF human embryos may proceed.