Ethical issues in embryo donation

MacCallum, Fiona; Widdows, Heather

doi:10.1017/cbo9781139026390.015

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…With adoption you are taking on a child who was conceived in another relationship and ‘given away’: you adopt this child and her or his story. With fertility treatment you are conceiving, with the assistance of donated genetic material, your child within your relationship, always considering, however, that genes and genetic heritage provide markers for our identity and matter in ways unique to us all (MacCallum and Widdows, ).…”

Section: Assisted Reproductive Technology: In Vitro Fertilizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

New paradigms of parenthood: researching practice in a fertility clinic incarnating new forms of family

Bohme

2017

Journal of Family Therapy

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Traditional notions of parenthood are being challenged by the requests for treatment in a licensed fertility clinic. The unprecedented fast‐moving changes in assisted reproductive technology, especially gamete (sperm, eggs, embryo) donation, are enabling the creation of new forms of family. For this to be the subject of new systemic research, a reflexive intertwining of both research activities and professional practice activities is required with each informing and forming the other. Indeed, practitioners are researchers by virtue of rigorously using reflexive analytical processes in daily practice moment by moment. If we author ourselves in conversation with others, the ‘thing’ we are studying are ways of talking and relating to each other. Thus a paradigm shift has to be made, from examining entities to attending to language or language processes – especially in the counselling conversation that precedes treatment. This article presents a model where the ‘small’ stories of everyday lives are turned from a passing event into a research enterprise as witness to social change. For the social skills we use to do both practice and research attach us to real human beings in deeply human ways. Practitioner points One counselling conversation can help people to reflect on creating the new forms of family they envision and place this in an ethical context. Conversational practice challenges institutional traditions and moves towards a more philosophical model of collaborative inquiry Clients telling their story become observers of their own thinking and see themselves as experts in their own lives The practitioner uses reflexive analytical processes, foregrounding the ethical in order to minimize social and power inequalities

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Section: Assisted Reproductive Technology: In Vitro Fertilizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

New paradigms of parenthood: researching practice in a fertility clinic incarnating new forms of family

Bohme

2017

Journal of Family Therapy

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“…Statistics show that babies born from ART procedures stand a statistically significantly higher risk of having nonchromosomal birth defects compared to their non-ART counterparts (Boulet et al 2016). Prematurity, low birth weight and multiple pregnancy, as well as a higher chance of cerebral palsy, and overall higher morbidity and mortality, have been documented in babies born to infertile couples who have resorted to ART (Barnhart 2013, 299; Steel and Sutcliffe 2009, 21).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Children too are susceptible to commodification and commercialization, thus leading to them being viewed as commodities subject to a “creation of a value context” (Rothman 1986, 103). The commodification of children has been described as “pushing [children] into the property end of the person/property spectrum” (MacCallam and Widdows 2012, 280). Two key features are identifiable in this process: (1) objectification: persons become things onto which desires can be projected, and (2) contract and sale, which now become the framework of the relationship.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Injustices Implied in the Assisted Reproductive Technologies Market

Calleja

2022

Linacre Q

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This article critiques the current theological basis that deems assisted reproductive technologies (ART) as immoral, namely that it dissociates the unitive act from procreation, and that it violates the dignity of the embryo. It is argued that notwithstanding the validity of these moral truths, these issues are of little relevance to couples facing childlessness. Three alternative views are then presented, all based on the injustices related to the ART market: (a) injustices that directly affect the couple and their offspring, (b) unfairness related to the commercial aspect of ART markets, and (c) the overall effects that impinge on society at large. Therefore, instead of burdening childless couples wanting to have children of their own with the culpability of sin for resorting to ART, one must rather make them aware that they are prey to the ART market while calling for better regulation of this system in order to mitigate these injustices. The article ends with some recommendations on how to address these injustices.

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“…In response, storage limits ranging from 1 to 10 years have been introduced in most countries (de Lacey, 2007a; Frith, Blyth, Paul, & Berger, 2011; Hammarberg, Johnson, & Petrillo, 2011; Hammarberg & Tinney, 2006; Provoost et al, 2011). Beyond these time frames, most jurisdictions require application for continued storage or have processes allowing for the legal discarding of embryos (following “diligent” attempts to contact the couples) (de Lacey, 2007a; MacCallum & Widdows, 2012). Disposal options may include discarding, donation to research, or embryo donation, with the latter two options not available in all jurisdictions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Fate of Unused Embryos: Discourses, Action Possibilities, and Subject Positions

et al. 2017

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Although in vitro fertilization (IVF) has offered hope to those struggling with infertility, it has also had some unintended consequences, including the fate of embryos that may be "surplus" to requirement following IVF treatment. The number of embryos in storage across the world is high, creating a dilemma for patients who need to make disposal decisions, as well as presenting an administrative and practical dilemma for clinics. Research has suggested that patients' views of the status of their embryo/s may affect their disposal decisions, and yet the nature of the links between views of the embryo and decisions to either donate or discard remain unclear. In this article, we engage in a discursive analysis of literature on disposal decisions. We discuss the range of ways in which embryos may be constructed, and demonstrate how these discourses make available or constrain particular action possibilities, and offer particular subject positions for patients. The analysis highlights the complexity of the relationship between embryo status and decision making, and may assist clinicians in supporting and guiding patients' decisions.

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Ethical issues in embryo donation

Cited by 8 publications

References 31 publications

New paradigms of parenthood: researching practice in a fertility clinic incarnating new forms of family

New paradigms of parenthood: researching practice in a fertility clinic incarnating new forms of family

Injustices Implied in the Assisted Reproductive Technologies Market

The Fate of Unused Embryos: Discourses, Action Possibilities, and Subject Positions

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