Abstract

This paper covers the highly controversial topic of assisted reproduction. A few decades ago, the thought of assisted reproduction was only seen in science fiction movies. However, today this has become a reality and is now a choice for couples who seek to have a child yet cannot naturally conceive one. Yet, this comes with ethical issues such as exploitation and playing God. Many people criticize assisted reproduction as morally unacceptable, and conception should be left to nature. Issues including abortion and the care of preterm infants do not stray far from assisted reproduction. This topic springs a number of ethical questions, all which once was considered just a plot for a science fiction film and this paper discusses some of the issues assisted reproduction faces.

Introduction

Assisted reproduction is something made possible through today’s advancements in technology. It is the process where a woman bears a child for someone else (Bavister, 2002). This was also seen in the past – where a woman could not bear a child for her husband – the couple would find a woman which the husband would impregnate and bear child. However, today modern technology enables a couple to have a child through another woman without going through this unusual process. This can be done through vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF is a scientific procedure which enables couples who are unable to have a child the baby which they desire without having to adopt. Even though this process is quite common nowadays, it still goes through very common complaints in regards to its ethics.

IVF is where a surrogate mother is provided a fertilized egg – the sperm and the egg can be either donated by a third party or provided by the couple – and the surrogate mother is to bear the child in her womb (Bavister, 2002). Simply put, surrogacy is the arrangement in which a woman carries and delivers a child for another person and/or couple. Genetically, the woman can be the child’s mother, or she may be carrying the embryo transferred to her uterus from another woman. Surrogacy involves a lot of people. This includes the parents, or the couple desiring the child, the surrogate mother, and sometimes even fertility specialists, lawyers and surrogacy agencies.

There have been issues in the past which have created this surrogacy to be a highly controversial issue. Like the famous issue of Baby M (Bavister, 2002). With the baby M case, the biological mother of the baby, Mary Beth Whitehead, whom provided both the egg and the womb for a couple desiring a child, at the end of the pregnancy decided to keep the child. This devastated the couple awaiting the child and left court decisions in a tangled mess. Due to the legal and ethical complications of this rare situation, surrogacy cases now require a contract for the woman bearing the child and/or donating the egg.

Along with complications such as this, it is not surprising that surrogacy has many moral concerns as well. The first example of surrogacy can be traced back to the time of Abraham as recorded in the Bible. This is where Sarah, Abraham’s wife decided that Abraham should impregnate their servant, Hagar so that Sarah may have a child. This sort of surrogacy can be seen and criticized as adultery. However, because of the advancements of technology, this type of surrogacy is no more needed, and babies can be created in test tubes and Petri dishes. Now, the thought of this scientific procedure in creating life may conjure up ideas of science-fiction or even horror movies to mind. Also bringing up the fear that the woman you entrust to bear your child is a complete stranger whom you really know nothing of. The thought of surrogacy has many ethical issues coming from left and right.

It is true that scientists now have the technology to create life, many people see this as unethical because it is “playing God”. However, there are many deserving couples out there who would like to be parents, yet do not have the reproductive capabilities to do so. Yes, they could consider adopting, however most – if not all – couples would like a child who they can say has their eyes, smile, etc. Sharing the same genetic make-up with their child tightens their bond. Some scientists refer to surrogacy similar to organ donation, though it is more of organ borrowing; where one woman assists another woman through scientific and medical means. It can be seen as simple as that, yet morals, beliefs and religion make the matter a bit more complicated.