I’m a Scientist, Get me out of Here! Teacher Notes11

Lesson 5: IVF Debate

Suggested adaptationsSupportHelp to structure discussion further by giving the ‘prompt sentences’ on the opposite page to pupils you think would need them or write them on the board so pupils can see them the whole time, and follow the sentence structure.

Extension:Read out all of the card initially. Allow to debate more freely.

Lesson FormatLesson 5 - IVF Debate A structured practice debate on a controversial topic

Starter: 5 minutesWhat is IVF? IVF covers issues that affect many people.Sometimes the best way to know how someone else feels is to assume his or her point of view.

Activity: 35 minutes1) There are 8 character cards, as detailed opposite. You can use 4 to 8

characters by splitting your students into as many groups as you want to cover. Split your students into groups and arrange the groups around the classroom.

2) Give out character cards – one per group, and give them a few minutes to read them over as a group.

3) Get one of the students in each group to read out their starting positions at the top of the card to the rest of the class. What are the class’s initial thoughts? Is there one position they identify with?

4) Take it in turns to read out ‘Our IVF fact’. Does it change the way they think?

5) Take it in turns to read out ‘Our IVF issue’. Does this raise any different feelings?

6) Read ‘Our IVF question’ to the groups they feel it is most relevant to.7) Recap by getting each group to summarise the argument of one of the

OTHER characters (preferably from the other side of the debate).

Note – This resource is flexible and pupils can assume the roles all the way through, or just assume the roles for the first read out. If pupils do assume the roles all way through make sure you get them to express their personal opinion at the end of the discussion and in the plenary

Plenary: 10 minutesVote as to which position they agree with most if there is one? Why? Which arguments were the most persuasive?

Suggested Homework: Students (in groups) make a poster/collage arguing for a different characters’ position.

Learning objective:• To practise discussing and

debating issues and expressing an opinion

• Understand the arguments for and against In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)

Other learning outcomes:• Students realise that experts are

‘human’ – having information makes you the expert.

• Realise that data can be presented in different ways, depending on the point you want to make

• Consider social, ethical and factual issues in an integrated way

Curriculum points covered:• HSW• Using data to draw conclusions• Societal aspects of scientific

evidence• Developing an argument

Substantive• To evaluate the benefits of, and the

problems that may arise from, the use of hormones to control fertility, including IVF

Resources: • IVF character cards.

Lesson Plans

This lesson introduces a controversial topic through a structured debate. Extra information on IVF and how to run the debate is found opposite on page 12.

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I’m a Scientist, Get me out of Here! Teacher Notes 12

Lesson 5: IVF Debate

Structured debate: Should IVF be able on the NHS?

Characters

If you have enough students to make 8 groups, then you can use all eight positions, or use fewer, as you wish. The game can work with as few as four students – taking the ‘essential’ positions, this gives two for and two against.

Facilitation tipsEnsure pupils know there is no right or wrong answer.Be observant of ones that want to speak and are not getting a chance.

It can be very helpful to put the following prompt sentences up on the board:-

“I think IVF should/shouldn’t be paid for by the NHS because…….”

“I think ……………… is the most important point to think about.”

IVF short summary(Most information emerges during the activity, through the character cards, but you may want to introduce the topic with some of this background).

IVF stands for In Vitro Fertilisation, a treatment for various forms of infertility. Ova and sperm are mixed together outside a woman’s body. Children born by the technique are sometimes called test-tube babies, but the mixing is actually usually done in a Petri dish. Fertilised eggs are then implanted into the woman’s womb.

A woman will have to have extensive hormone treatments before having IVF. These stimulate her ovaries so that lots of follicles develop to produce eggs, all at once. These eggs are collected using an ultrasound-guided needle, which enters the ovaries through the vaginal wall. The eggs are then mixed with the sperm and incubated for 18 hours. After a few days usually two of the healthiest looking embryos are implanted into the woman’s womb. The success rate is approximately 28% of women becoming pregnant per cycle of treatment.

A point of clarification (relates to information on the character cards)The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) (an independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on the promotion of good health), recommended in 2004 that the NHS should pay for up to 3 cycles of IVF for anyone between the ages of 23 and 39 without children. However, there is still a so-called postcode lottery and in most areas couples will get one round of treatment.

I have been working as an IVF doctor for 20 years. I have met many childless couples throughout my career, many of them would have no hope of having a child if it wasn’t for IVF. I have seen the joy that having a child has brought them. Infertility is not a choice and they deserve the chance to have a baby. My IVF fact: The first course of IVF was used in 1978 and around 12,000 children are born in the UK through IVF every year.

My IVF issue: The NHS exists to assist in quality of life, not just basic healthcare.

My IVF question: If we have technology that can make so many people happy why don’t we use it?

Dr Jean FrancisIVF is such a waste of the NHS budget. I’ve just found out I have advanced kidney cancer and only a few months to live. There’s no cure, but there are drugs which could give me a few more months of life. I can’t get those drugs on the NHS because it is too expensive. I just want some more time with my wife and kids to say goodbye.

My IVF fact: Guidelines say that the NHS should pay for up to 3 cycles of IVF for anyone between the ages of 23 and 39 without children. That could be a total of £7500 per couple who want IVF.My IVF issue: Having a child is a choice but I didn’t choose to have cancer.

My IVF question: Isn’t it better to keep people alive than to help people have children?

John Wilson

I work in a children’s home with children whose birth families are not able to bring them up. Many of them have had very stressful lives with no stability. Instead of using IVF, people should adopt and give these children a permanent family who will care for them and help them thrive. IVF fact: 80,000 children are in care in the UK alone.IVF issue: Many of these children will grow up not knowing what it’s like to have the stable support of a loving family, through no fault of their own.

IVF question: Wouldn’t you like to give your love to a child who really needs it?

Sally RobbinsThere is growing evidence that children born through IVF have more health problems than children born through normal methods. And I treat many women who suffer a potentially fatal condition called Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), caused by fertility drugs used in IVF. We really need more long-term studies into the risks of IVF.

IVF fact: One study showed that children born through IVF spent almost twice as long in hospital as naturally conceived children. IVF issue: The NHS should make people well, not make them ill! IVF question: People desperate for children may not weigh up the risks properly, shouldn’t the NHS be more responsible?

Dr Sudha Tripathi

I have been working as an IVF

doctor for 20 years. I have met many childless

couples throughout my career, many of them would

have no hope of having a child if it wasn’t for IVF.

I have seen the joy that having a child has brought

them. Infertility is not a choice and they deserve

the chance to have a baby.

My IVF fact: The first course of IVF was used in 1978

and around 12,000 children are born in the UK through

IVF every year.

My IVF issue: The NHS exists to assist in quality of life,

not just basic healthcare.

My IVF question: If we have

technology that can make

so many people happy why

don’t we use it?

Dr Jean Francis

IVF is such a waste of the NHS budget.

I’ve just found out I have advanced

kidney cancer and only a few months to live.

There’s no cure, but there are drugs which could

give me a few more months of life. I can’t get those

drugs on the NHS because it is too expensive.

I just want some more time with my wife and kids

to say goodbye.

My IVF fact: Guidelines say that the NHS should pay

for up to 3 cycles of IVF for anyone between the ages

of 23 and 39 without children. That could be a total of

£7500 per couple who want IVF.

My IVF issue: Having a child is a choice but I didn’t

choose to have cancer.

My IVF question: Isn’t it better

to keep people alive than to

help people have children?

John Wilson

I work in a children’s home with

children whose birth families are

not able to bring them up. Many of them have had

very stressful lives with no stability. Instead of

using IVF, people should adopt and give these

children a permanent family who will

care for them and help them thrive.

IVF fact: 80,000 children are in care in the UK alone.

IVF issue: Many of these children will grow up not

knowing what it’s like to have the stable support of a

loving family, through no fault of their own.

IVF question: Wouldn’t you like to give your love to a

child who really needs it?

Sally Robbins

There is growing evidence that children

born through IVF have more health problems than

children born through normal methods. And I treat

many women who suffer a potentially fatal condition

called Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS),

caused by fertility drugs used in IVF. We really need

more long-term studies into the risks of IVF.

IVF fact: One study showed that children born through

IVF spent almost twice as long in hospital as naturally

conceived children.

IVF issue: The NHS should make people well, not

make them ill! IVF question: People desperate

for children may not weigh up

the risks properly, shouldn’t the

NHS be more responsible?

Dr Sudha Tripathi

Pro AgainstBekele & Alison Sissoko (married couple) John Wilson (person with illness)Dr. Jean Francis (pro IVF doctor) Isobel Lewis (antiabortionist)Dai Morris (IVF child) Dr. Sudha Tripathi (anti IVF doctor)Marie & Sally Osborne (same sex couple) Sally Robbins (adoption worker)

Lesson Plans

Suggested adaptationsSupportHelp to structure discussion further by giving the ‘prompt sentences’ on the opposite page to pupils you think would need them or write them on the board so pupils can see them the whole time, and follow the sentence structure.

Extension:Read out all of the card initially. Allow to debate more freely.

Lesson Plans

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