Reproductive Ethics

Is Baptism a Male Birthing Ritual? By Michele Stopera Freyhauf

by Feminism and Religion

Originally published on the Feminism and Religion project

Quite a number of years ago I had a conversation with one of my professors, a feminist theologian, who posed the... more Quite a number of years ago I had a conversation with one of my professors, a feminist theologian, who posed the question “Why do I need a man to purify my baby with the waters of baptism?  Is there something wrong or impure about the blood and water from a mother’s womb – my womb?”  Before you jump and shout the words Sacrament or removal of original sin, this question bears merit in exploring, especially in today’s world where women are taking a serious beating religiously, politically, and socially.  In today’s world, violations and rants are causing women to stand up and say STOP!  This is MY Body.  This outcry was provoked by chants of ethical slurs against women– Slut! Prostitute! Whore!  The cry got even louder when the issue of religion and government was raised in the fight of healthcare coverage of contraception. The cry got even louder with the enactment of the laws in Virginia and Texas (and many other states to follow suit) that forces women to undergo transvaginal ultrasounds in early stage abortions.  The mandatory insertion of a wand into a woman’s vagina (mandated by the government, mind you), is a violation and has women crying RAPE!

On Being a Gay Male Theologian During the War on Women by Dirk von der Horst

by Feminism and Religion

originally published on the Feminism and Religion project.

or some time, a prominent strand of gay and feminist theory and theology has taken it almost as axiomatic that gay... more or some time, a prominent strand of gay and feminist theory and theology has taken it almost as axiomatic that gay men, lesbians, and straight women have a common stake in dismantling patriarchy.  While I have always understood my own work as a gay theologian in terms of that common struggle, recent developments point to a significant challenge to keeping that bond intact in the larger sphere of political activism.

At the end of last year, National Public Radio deemed 2011 an extraordinary year for gay rights.    Buzzfeed listed 40 reasons why it was the best year for gays ever, beginning with a Gallup poll showing that for the first time a majority of Americans supported same-sex marriage.  The list also included the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and several firsts for openly gay elected officials.  Even the world of professional sports is becoming more accepting: in a recent tweet, Ravens’ linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo equated support for same-sex marriage with playing in a Super Bowl when asked about his life’s greatest accomplishments.

Simultaneously, we saw a steady legislative assault on women’s reproductive freedom. 

The Argument from Transfer

by Christian Munthe

Final version published in Bioethics 1996, 10 (1): 27-42.

Utilitarian arguments on bioethical issues regarding human reproduction typically start with the view that it is... more Utilitarian arguments on bioethical issues regarding human reproduction typically start with the view that it is wrong, other things being equal, not to procreate when this would have resulted in an additional being with a life worth living. The paper takes this view for granted and examines the common utilitarian claim that overpopulation and destitution in the world mean that, in practice, this obligation to procreate, other things being equal, often turns into a (categorical) obligation not to procreate. A version of this argument is defended - a version called the argument from transfer - according to which, rather than having additional children and care for them in order to make them happy, many people in the West ought to abstain from procreation and take care of destitute children already existing. The reasoning leading up to this conclusion raises some philosophical questions, seldom discussed in connection with bioethics, which indicate that the argument from transfer, although supporting the claim above, cannot neutralise the obligation to create more happy people as easily as assumed by utilitarians. It is argued that the argument from transfer may place many people facing the choice of procreation in a peculiar moral dilemma.

When sperm cannot travel: Experiences of UK would-be parents seeking treatment abroad.

by Ilke Turkmendag

Turkmendag I. When sperm cannot travel: Experiences of UK would-be parents seeking treatment abroad. In: M. L. Flear, A.M. Farrell, T.K. Hervey, T. Murphy, ed. European Law and New Health Technologies. Oxford University Press, 2012. Under Contract.

The ethics of nonmedical sex selection

by Heather Strange

Co-authored with Prof Ruth Chadwick. Published in Health Care Analysis, 2009

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that there are significant ethical problems with nonmedical sex selection, and... more The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that there are significant ethical problems with nonmedical sex selection, and that prohibitive legislation is justified. The central argument put forward is that nonmedical sex selection is a sexist practice which promotes socially restrictive conceptions of sex, gender and family. Several steps are taken to justify this position: background information on technology and legislation is provided, the neoliberal position that is supportive of nonmedical sex selection is described, and preliminary reasons for rejecting this approach are given. A detailed description of how a harm/benefit based analysis contributes to the argument against nonmedical sex selection, and how it successfully counters most criticism, is provided. The paper concludes by suggesting that virtue ethics further strengthens the moral argument against nonmedical sex selection.

Non-medical sex selection: ethical issues

by Heather Strange

Published in the British Medical Bulletin, 2010

Introduction: This paper aims to provide a concise review of the ethical issues that are commonly raised in the UK... more Introduction: This paper aims to provide a concise review of the ethical issues that are commonly raised in the UK debate on non-medical sex selection. Background information on sex selection technologies is provided, as is a description of the relevant UK legislation. Arguments for and against nonmedical sex selection will be explained and compared and conclusions will be drawn. It is finally suggested that the international debate on non-medical sex selection ought to be regarded as an important area of related interest.

Sources of data: Data were obtained from a search of existing ethics and policy literature focusing on sex selection.

Areas of agreement: There are very few areas of universal agreement in the debate.

Areas of controversy: There is much disagreement between critics over what harms are likely to be caused by sex selection and whether such harms are morally significant. The issue of whether governments can legitimately place limitations upon individual reproductive autonomy, and if so, to what degree, remains controversial.

Queensland's proposed surrogacy legislation: An opportunity for national reform

by Tammy Johnson

Is there a moral obligation to have children of only one sex?

by Kalina Kamenova

Published in The American Journal of Bioethics, 2010, 10(7), 26-27.

Some Old Objections to Rule-Consequentialism Reconsidered

by Gianfranco Pellegrino

Published in Notizie di Politeia, 3/2008, pp. 98-107

Family History

by J. David Velleman

Published in Philosophical Papers (2005)

On the morality of donor conception. On the morality of donor conception.

Persons in Prospect

by J. David Velleman

Published in Philosophy and Public Affairs (2008)

Comprises three papers: (1) "The Identity Problem", on Derek Parfit's non-identity problem; (2) "The... more Comprises three papers: (1) "The Identity Problem", on Derek Parfit's non-identity problem; (2) "The Gift of Life", on the morality of donor conception; (3) "Love and Non-existence", on our intuition that some people should never have been born.

Griffiths, M.D. (2011). Womb donation: A psychological view. Nottingham Post, June 14, p.5.

by Mark Griffiths

The Impossible Dream: A Review of Joan Rothschild's The Dream of the Perfect Child

by Lauren Jade Martin

State Fatherhood: the Politics of Nationalism, Sexuality, and Race In Singapore

by Geraldine Heng

State Fatherhood: The Politics of Sexuality, Nationalism and Race In Singapore

by Geraldine Heng

"Review of Birthing a Mother: The Surrogate Body and the Pregnant Self by Elly Teman."

by Sarah Willen

Willen, Sarah S. 2010. “Review of Birthing a Mother: The Surrogate Body and the Pregnant Self by Elly Teman.” Ethos: Journal of the Society for Psychological Anthropology 38(4).

Natural versus Assisted Reproduction. In Search of Fairness.

by Lisa Bortolotti

co-authored with Daniela Cutas and published in Studies in Ethics, Law and Technology, 2010

Whilst the choice of becoming a parent in the natural way is unregulated all over Europe (and proposals of regulation... more Whilst the choice of becoming a parent in the natural way is unregulated all over Europe (and proposals of regulation raise vehement objections), most European countries have (either legal or professional) regulations imposing criteria that people must satisfy if they wish to gain access to assisted reproduction and parenting. These criteria may include relationship status, age, sexual orientation, financial stability, health, and willingness to attend parenting classes. The existence of regulations in this area is largely accepted, and the objections raised usually concern the suitability of specific criteria rather than the legitimacy of imposing criteria at all. The inequality (if unsupported) could be solved by requiring both prospective natural and assisted parents to satisfy the same criteria (with some qualifications specified below) and, more importantly, to be subject to the same degree of monitoring, regardless of the way in which they became parents. 

Often people argue that proposals to regulate natural reproduction revive dreaded eugenic policies of the past, and that their implementation would violate some of our most cherished interests and rights: in particular the interest in becoming a parent and the right to reproduction and parenting. However, the same interests and rights are not equally safeguarded when one needs assistance to become a parent, and proposals to reduce the extent to which prospective parents requiring assistance are scrutinized are unpopular.

In this paper we challenge the alleged justification of the current practices, and we show that there are serious inconsistencies in the treatment of, respectively, people who become parents naturally and people who require assistance to become parents. Thus, we propose that regulation of reproduction and parenting be revised in such a way as to eliminate the inconsistencies.

Do we have an obligation to make smarter babies?

by Lisa Bortolotti

In Takala et al. (eds.) Cutting Through the Surface: Philosophical Approaches to Bioethics, Rodopi 2009

In this paper I consider some issues concerning cognitive enhancements and the ethics of enhancing in reproduction and... more In this paper I consider some issues concerning cognitive enhancements and the ethics of enhancing in reproduction and parenting. I argue that there are moral reasons to enhance the cognitive capacities of the children one has, or of the children one is going to have, and that these enhancements should not be seen as an alternative to pursuing important changes in society that might also improve one’s own and one’s children’s life. It has been argued that an emphasis on enhancing cognitive capacities might encourage the commodification of children. But this objection seems misplaced. The reasons why one decides to reproduce can be subject to moral approbation or condemnation, as such rea-sons might be indicators of the quality of one’s parenting and the happiness of the future persons one is committed to bringing to life. However, once the decision to reproduce is made, no further harm comes from taking as few risks as possible on behalf of the persons to whom one is giving life with their health, character and cognitive capacities.

Reproductive and parental autonomy: an argument for compulsory parental education

by Lisa Bortolotti

Co-authored with Daniela Cutas and published in Reproductive Biomedicine Online in 2009

In this paper we argue that society should make available reliable information about parenting to everybody from an... more In this paper we argue that society should make available reliable information about parenting to everybody from an early age. The reason why parental education is important (when offered in a comprehensive and systematic way) is that it can help young people understand better the responsibilities associated with reproduction, and the skills required for parenting. This would allow them to make more informed life-choices about reproduction and parenting, and exercise their autonomy with respect to these choices. We do not believe that parental education would constitute a limitation of individual freedom. Rather, the acquisition of relevant information about reproduction and parenting and the acquisition of self-knowledge with respect to reproductive and parenting choices can help give shape to individual life plans. We make a case for compulsory parental education on the basis of the need to respect and enhance individual reproductive and parental autonomy within a culture that presents contradictory attitudes towards reproduction and where decisions about whether to become a parent are subject to significant pressure and scrutiny.

Reproductive cloning in humans and therapeutic cloning in primates: is the ethical debate catching up with the recent scientific advances?

by Lisa Bortolotti

co-authored with Silvia Camporesi and published in the Journal of Medical Ethics in 2008

After years of failure, in November 2007 primate embryonic stem cells were derived by somatic cellular nuclear... more After years of failure, in November 2007 primate embryonic stem cells were derived by somatic cellular nuclear transfer, also known as therapeutic cloning. The first embryo transfer for human reproductive cloning purposes was also attempted in 2006, albeit with negative results. These two events force us to think carefully about the possibility of human cloning which is now much closer to becoming a reality. In this paper we tackle this issue from two sides, first summarising what scientists have achieved so far, then discussing some of the ethical arguments in favour and against human cloning which are debated in the context of policy making and public consultation. Therapeutic cloning as a means to improve and save lives has uncontroversial moral value. As to human reproductive cloning, we consider and assess some common objections and failing to see them as conclusive. We do recognise, though, that there will be problems at the level of policy and regulation that might either impair the implementation of human reproductive cloning or make its accessibility restricted in a way that could become difficult to justify on moral grounds. We suggest using the time still available before human reproductive cloning is attempted successfully to create policies and institutions that can offer clear directives on its legitimate applications on the basis of solid arguments, coherent moral principles, and extensive public consultation.