Tough Choices for Guardians of Blastocysts

If I were appointed guardian of a blastocyst and had to decide what was in its best interests, I would be confronted with some tough choices, some of which would have to be made quickly. First of all, after more than a week or so, the blastocyst can no longer be implanted in a womb, and it will have to be frozen or permitted to develop beyond implantability. Implantation is a risky procedure for the blastocyst, and there is a good chance that it will not survive the process. Freezing is also dodgy, as the blastocyst has a good chance of dying in the process of freezing or thawing and then faces the risk of implantation in any event. The safest course, if I am dealing with an unfrozen blastocyst, would be to permit it to develop without freezing or implantation. If the blastocyst or pre-blastocystic embryo is already frozen, the safest bet is to leave it that way. I do not believe that it's quality of life will be affected by being frozen, and its survivability will be enhanced.

The unfrozen blastocyst will continue to grow for about 50 multiplications, at which point it will become senescent. The blastocyst can then be maintained in an artificial environment for years as a blob of sorts as long as nutrition is provided and toxic waste products are removed. Presumably, in our "culture of life", we would spare no expense to extend the life of the blob at this point. I would be duty bound to secure for it all the benefits of citizenship, including rights to welfare payments. After all, we are talking about a severely developmentally disabled citizen at this point, and the blob or its frozen counterpart would be entitled to every consideration given to such persons.