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Legal issues relating to assisted reproduction
are discussed in many forums. Some examples follow.
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"The unprecedented and rapid advances
in medical sciences have revolutionized modern medicine
and surgery in a number of ways. These advances such as
human embryo cloning, trans-genetic manipulation, in-vitro
fertilization and surrogate motherhood have been able
to cure infertility to a large extent by offering 'made
to measure or super babies' and can cure a number of conventional
diseases and improve the quality of life. Scientists and
sociologists are concerned about moral and ethical issues,
which have arisen due to these advances in medicine. The
new biotechnology and the achievements in bio-engineering
offered hope to those couples in fulfilling their yearning
for children. What we witness today is just the beginning
and not the end of the adventurous march of science in
unravelling the mysteries of nature. The moot point now
is how can nature be engineered to yield positive results
without offending values of human morality, ethics and
decency. It is high time that governments and society
take stock of the current dilemma, as these advances in
biosciences pose a threat to the moral and ethical fabric
of modern society."
Source: Med Law. 2001;20(2):295-9, as cited in PubMed:
Assisted human reproductive techniques-emerging ethical
and legal implications. Rao RA. NBM Law College, Visakhapatnam
India.
- "Genetic material donation has become an integral part
of the management of infertility. Sperm, oocyte and pre-embryo
donation are successful both medically and technically.
The practice of genetic material donation raises ethical,
legal, religious and social issues. The practice of pre-embryo
donation raises several unique issues, such as the status
of the pre-embryo and its well-being. Medical problems which
need to be considered include selection of the donors, evaluation
of the recipients and quality control of the genetic material.
The relationship between the biological and social parents,
and the safeguarding of the interests of the offspring,
may be resolved by specific legislation pertaining to each
country. Potential pre-embryo banks should be subjected
to licensing and should not be run by a commercial system.
By practicing pre-embryo donation, the medical profession
and society should consider not only the interests of the
infertile couple, but also the interests of the offspring."
Source: Int J Gynaecol Obstet 1998 Jan;60(1):51-7, as cited
in PubMed Pre-embryo donation: ethical and legal aspects.
Eisenberg VH, Schenker JG. Department of Gynecology and
Obstetrics, Hadassah University Medical Center, Jerusalem,
Israel.
- "This article gives the findings of an in-depth study
of the outcome for parents and children after assisted conception,
namely in vitro fertilization and donor insemination. The
study is of 54 families bringing up 110 children, 74 of
whom were the result of these two medical interventions.
The findings presented in this article deal specifically
with the psychological issues and ethical dilemmas experienced
by the parents of these two groups. Specific areas regarding
in vitro fertilization are use of the term 'test-tube baby';
religious and community attitudes to the use of assisted
reproductive technology; and the effects of these attitudes
on the families. The major issue of multiple births and
their social outcomes is dealt with in the following article.
The specific areas for donor insemination families are secrecy
and reticence about the whole procedure; infertility as
a continuing taboo subject; donor anonymity; and the resulting
effect of donor anonymity on parenting children who do not
have access to their full health and genetic family history.
Reference is made to the findings of other relevant research.
Practice and legal implications from the findings are presented."
Source: Hum Fertil (Camb) 2000;3(1):13-19 as cited in PubMed:
Families from assisted conception: ethical and psychological
issues. McWhinnie A. Department of Social Work, University
of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK.
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