The politics of test-tube parenthood
(sz) THERE has been a lot of talk lately about surplus embryos and what to do with them. In Victoria, there are three options: surplus embryos can be donated to research, disposed of, or donated to other infertile people. Recently, the Infertility Treatment Authority announced that it is considering a new policy - allowing people to choose the recipients of their embryos. This is a contentious proposal that raises many ethical questions.
Should donors be able to choose recipients on the basis of cultural and religious background or sexuality? Is this unfair discrimination? Will the possibility of a relationship between donors, recipients and children complicate parental roles?
There are conflicting views about “directed” embryo donation. The recent Victorian Law Reform Commission’s Report on Assisted Reproductive Technology and Adoption recommends that “donors should not be permitted to specify the qualities or characteristics of the unknown recipients of their donated gametes or embryos”. To avoid the possibility of unfair discrimination, they recommend that directed donation should be limited to recipients that are known to donors. Melbourne IVF chairman Lyndon Hale suggests that allowing directed donation might help increase the number of people willing to donate embryos. However, Donna Howlett, managing director of Monash IVF, believes that directed donation would make things more difficult for potential recipients.
It is not just policy makers who disagree about directed embryo donation. When we asked people with surplus embryos for their views, we found a wide range of opinions. more…
From: »The Age«