Bioethics Institute Ghent, Dept of Philosophy and Moral Sciences, Ghent University, Blandijnberg 2, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2012 Jun;33(2):45-52. doi: 10.3109/0167482X.2012.676111. Epub 2012 Apr 20.
This paper describes a recently identified conception of the cryopreserved embryo as a symbol of one's relationship (SOR).
A questionnaire was sent together with the embryo disposition decision (EDD) form to patients for whom embryos were cryopreserved at the department in Ghent, Belgium. We collected data on patient characteristics, their EDD attitudes and the reasons for their willingness or unwillingness to consider each of the disposition options (donation to others for reproduction, donation for science and discarding).
The SOR view was found more often in patients who were less educated and whose last treatment was less than 3 years ago. Viewing the embryo as a SOR was not linked to more difficult decision making, but to more emotionally loaded decision making. In particular, patients with this view more often reported feelings of grief. This view was also linked to the outcome of the decision making process.
The conception of the embryo as a SOR is part of an affective attitude towards embryos that has an impact on patients' disposition decisions. Alongside patients' values and principles, it is important that counselors acknowledge and clarify patients' affective conceptualizations.
本文描述了一个最近提出的冷冻胚胎概念，即胚胎是一个人的关系象征（SOR）。
我们向在比利时根特部门冷冻胚胎的患者发送了一份问卷和胚胎处置决定（EDD）表格。我们收集了患者特征、他们对 EDD 的态度以及他们愿意或不愿意考虑每种处置选择（捐赠给他人用于繁殖、捐赠用于科学研究和丢弃）的原因的数据。
在受教育程度较低且上次治疗时间不到 3 年前的患者中，更倾向于将胚胎视为 SOR。将胚胎视为 SOR 与更困难的决策无关，而是与更情绪化的决策有关。特别是，有这种观点的患者更经常报告感到悲伤。这种观点也与决策过程的结果有关。
将胚胎视为 SOR 是患者对胚胎的一种情感态度的一部分，这种态度会影响他们的处置决策。除了患者的价值观和原则外，顾问还必须承认并澄清患者的情感概念化。
