What about the women? Ethical and policy aspects of egg supply for cloning research

Assessing the Risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome in Egg Donation: Implications for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research

“…For instance, feminist bioethicist Katrina George writes about the ethics surrounding egg donation in her article "What About the Women? Ethical and Policy Aspects of Egg Supply for Cloning Research" (George 2007). Based on what she describes as years worth of data, George presents the risks associated with donating eggs.…”

“…Based on what she describes as years worth of data, George presents the risks associated with donating eggs. Of these she cites that "5% or up to 10% of women who undergo the process experience ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome" (George 2007); however the author does not mention that OHSS comes in mild, moderate, and severe forms, and it is virtually only the severe form that has posed any significantly dangerous effects. As extensive literature has demonstrated, this form of OHSS occurs in only about 2% of the population and, arguably, far less than that depending on definition.…”

Ethical Considerations in Stem Cell Research on Neurologic and Orthopedic Conditions

“…Will that seeming injustice also translate into a marketplace developing around “choice” embryonic cells, especially affecting women who can donate their eggs? Notwithstanding the aforementioned concerns over the moral repugnance directed at creating human embryos solely for research purposes, possible harms to women who may be tempted by the income potential of egg donation include risks associated with ovarian hyperstimulation, the long‐term risks of cancer caused by repeated ovulation attempts, and the risks of surgical retrieval [48].…”

The Ethics of Moral Compromise for Stem Cell Research Policy

“…These beliefs strongly influence the positions taken on whether ova and embryos can be used for SCR [18]. Although some scholars have attempted to neatly link certain beliefs on Health Care Anal (2012) 20:50- 65 51 moral status and harms to women with particular desires regarding SCR policy choices [15,24,27,55,58,59], there is no simple calculus for this. Nevertheless, for the purposes of discussing a moral compromise on these two ethical issues, we highlight the diversity of views on the moral status of human embryos and the physical and social harms to women, and how these relate to choices on SCR policy.…”

“…Physical risks include (a) those associated with ovarian stimulation, including ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, abdominal pain, fatigue, mood changes, strokes, renal failure, heart attacks and possibly ovarian or uterine cancer and (b) those associated with the surgical retrieval of ova such as bleeding and hemorrhage, pelvic injury, and infection [24,48]. The social risks to women ova providers include exploitation and undue influence due to substantive compensation (financial or other) [3] and gratitude for services towards physicians [34], both of which may undermine the ability of some women to provide voluntary informed consent.…”