How to Address the Ethics of Reproductive Travel to Developing Countries: A Comparison of National Self‐sufficiency and Regulated Market Approaches

Abstract

One of the areas of concern raised by cross-border reproductive travel regards the treatment of women who are solicited to provide their ova or surrogacy services to foreign consumers. This is particularly troublesome in the context of developing countries where endemic poverty and low standards for both medical care and informed consent may place these women at risk of exploitation and harm. We explore two contrasting proposals for policy development regarding the industry, both of which seek to promote ethical outcomes and social justice: While one proposal advocates efforts to minimize cross-border demand for female reproductive resources through the pursuit of national self-sufficiency, the other defends cross-border trade as a means for meeting the needs of vulnerable groups. Despite the conflicting objectives of the proposed strategies, the paper identifies common values and points of agreement between the two, including the importance of regulations to safeguard those providing ova or surrogacy services.

Trends and structural shifts in health tourism: Evidence from seasonal time-series data on health-related travel spending by Canada during 1970–2010

“…Due to the widespread impact of health tourism, there has been a growing need from the health system planning and policymaking perspective to better understand the nature of the trend in these activities (Chen and Flood, 2013;Cohen, 2012;Crozier and Martin, 2012;McMahon and Thorsteinsdottir, 2010). It is important to have a better understanding of what the determinants of health tourism are and in what way they have shaped the trend.…”

A survey on public opinion regarding financial incentives for oocyte donation in Brazil

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The Graduate Student Research Conference in Business and Economics: Volume 1

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