REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES and the Sale of Human Eggs

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REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• Ethical, Legal and Social Considerations

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• Medical Indicators
• Incidence ltgt16 of all married couples
• Some Causes of Infertility
• Later Marriages
• Unsuccessful surgery
• Blocked Fallopian Tubes
• Low Sperm Count
• Occupational Hazards

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• Medical Indicators
• Other Factors
• Genetic Disease

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• Possibilities
• AIH (artificial insemination by husband)
• AID (artificial insemination by donor)
• TOT (tubal ovum transfer)
• GIFT (Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer)
• Embryo Transfer
• Gestational mother (surrogate)
• Freezing Sperm
• Freezing Embryos
• In Vitro Fertilization

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• Legal Issues
• Legitimacy
• Identification of Donors
• Third Party Donors and Inheritance
• Criteria for Participation

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• Psychological Issues
• Mental Health of Male
• Mental Health of Female
• Mental Health of child

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• Social Policy Issues
• Safety of Technologies
• Threat to Marriage and Family Life
• Regulations and Eligibility
• Scarce Resources
• Population Issues
• Alternatives
• Costs

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• Ethical and Moral Issues
• Right to have Children
• Embryonic Life and protections (status of the
  fetus)
• Eugenic Concerns
• Resources and Justice
• Children and their Heritage
• Well-being of the Child
• Conjugal Exclusivity

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• Reflections of Religious Communities
• Jewish Tradition
• Protestant Tradition
• Catholic Tradition

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• On the Sale of Organs - Yes
• Upholds our respect for individual autonomy
• Helps abate the current shortage of organs
• Since competition and incentive influence most
  areas of health care, why not in the area or
  organs?
• Our market system is fundamentally at odds with
  altruism and communitarianism
• It is not unfair that the wealthy stand a better
  chance of obtaining organs

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• On the Sale of Organs - NO
• Coercion
• Are donor-sellers truly autonomous?
• Coercion by virtue of impoverished conditions?
• Compromise of the true informed consent process

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• On the Sale of Organs - NO
• Risk
• What right do people have to engage in risk?
• What responsibilities do physicians have to
  protect patients?

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• On the Sale of Organs - NO
• The Donor
• Is the donor sufficiently informed of the risks?
• Will poor donors be less informed?
• Are they subject to exploitation by their
  circumstances (India and China for example)
• Does monetary payment inflate the benefits over
  the risks?

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• On the Sale of Organs - NO
• The Physician
• Surgery ought to be performed for medical
  necessity not monetary
• Sale of organs changes the emphasis
• Will profit then become the reason for physician
  practice?
• How does this change the dynamic of the role of
  physicians?

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• On the Sale of Organs - NO
• The Social Harm
• Commercializing the gift exchange would
  diminish the significance we place on altruism
• Conflicts with our notion of organs as gift to
  save a life
• To whom would organs be available?

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• On the Sale of Organs - NO
• Autonomy is rightfully limited in some
  circumstances
• The human body and its parts cannot be the
  subject of commercial transactions (WHO)
• Individual liberty, while important, needs to be
  balanced against social responsibilities and the
  needs of others.
• The value of social justice is prior to
  unfettered individual autonomy

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• On the Sale of Organs NO
• Commodification of the Human Body
• Treating body parts as if they were property
• This view suggests body parts can be bought, sold
  or rented
• Presupposes the right to absolute control over
  our bodies
• Provides economic benefit

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• On the Sale of Organs NO
• Commodification of the Human Body
• Has the potential to create disvalue for the
  human body
• Adds to the already growing concern for human
  dignity in areas such as advertising
• Reduces people to their market value
• Places a price on something that is inherently
  priceless

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• On the Sale of Organs Are Human Eggs Different?
• How is egg donation different than blood or
  sperm?
• Parting with something that would not otherwise
  be used and can be replenished
• More uncomfortable and much more risky
• Fertility procedures are elective and normally
  not covered by insurance

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• On the Sale of Organs Are Human Eggs Different?
• Increasing commercialization of egg donation has
  increased payment for donation which has been
  passed on to the recipients making this all the
  more expensive
• Possible long term effects, including chronic
  pain and disability

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• On the Sale of Organs Are Human Eggs Different?
• Commodification of the human body the person is
  thus not an embodied spirit, a holistic organism,
  but reduced to various parts
• Threatens human dignity

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• On the Sale of Organs Are Human Eggs Different?
• It is unfair to base the access to a scarce
  resource on ones ability to pay
• Psychological impact on women who donate is not
  yet clear
• Long term effects of drugs used in stimulating
  ovulation is not yet clear

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Reproductive Technologies and the Sale of Human
Eggs

• Questions and Discussion