10:30 am
Is it ethical to burden infertile people with the task of changing social norms surrounding genetic relatedness?
Amy Williams | Lancaster University | United Kingdom
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Author:
Amy Williams | Lancaster University | United Kingdom
Is it ethical to burden infertile people with the task of changing social norms surrounding genetic relatedness?
Introduction:
It has been argued that society should not place value on genetic relatedness and that assisted reproductive technologies that reinforce the normative value of genetic relatedness should therefore not be offered to those seeking infertility treatment.
Method:
This paper aims to address the question of whether it is ethical to burden infertile persons by denying them access to ARTs in order to promote social change away from valuing genetic relatedness. If, hypothetically, it is right to try to change the value placed on genetic relatedness, I argue that it is unethical to place the burden of societal change solely on infertile persons in this way, for the three following reasons. First, it is unethical to single out this group simply because they are an easier target whose visibility and dependence on medical assistance can be exploited. Second, it is inequitable to place the burden for social change on the shoulders of a small group of individuals, when there are less harmful or more equitable options available. Third, these efforts alone are unlikely to displace the existing social inertia that underpins having genetically related children in society. Targeting this group is unlikely to bring about meaningful change. I consider objections in relation to each of the above arguments.
Conclusion:
Together, these key points reinforce why it is not ethically permissible to deny infertile people access to ARTs in order to effect social change away from valuing genetic relatedness.
10:45 am
'Femtech' and the monitoring of female fertility
Dr. Catriona McMillan | University of Edinburgh | United Kingdom
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Author:
Dr. Catriona McMillan | University of Edinburgh | United Kingdom
Introduction
Concurrent with the rise of digital health and personal health tracking technologies, a market has also emerged of health technologies targeted specifically at women: ‘femtech’. This paper is motivated by the concern that insufficient scholarly and regulatory attention has been devoted to the growing market for this new, personal form of reproductive technology. The effects of reliance on femtech in the context of fertility can be particularly acute, as many of the interventions focus on the tracking, monitoring and supply of information of female reproductive processes - from menstrual cycle tracking, to use as contraception, and also to use as a conception aid. As a realm that is relatively unregulated at present, it is urgent that a thorough ethical examination take place of this uncharted territory, as a first step toward delivering safe, effective regulation of femtech that centres on users’ interests.
Methods
Desk-based research.
Outcome
Femtech devices and apps are replicating and entrenching gender norms and social inequalities through heightening the responsibilisation of women’s health by entrenching technological self-surveillance as a norm. Any future regulatory response should be mindful of this.
Conclusion
No picture of the interests at stake with femtech is complete without accounting for the multi-layered and wide-reaching structures that effect women (and other users of femtech) the answer needs to look beyond traditional spheres of enquiry. If systems of power pose a threat to femtech users’ interests and health, then any regulatory response needs to look at the regulatory system (not just the health regulation sphere) that surrounds Femtech.
11:00 am
Normalizing adoptive families in India: Strategies used by Indian adoptive parents and adoption agencies
Dr. med. Priya Satalkar | Ghent University | Belgium
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Authors:
Dr. med. Priya Satalkar | Ghent University | Belgium
Prof. Veerle Provoost
In India, the legislation for child adoption is restrictive and favors heterosexual resident Indian couples in stable marriage. This paper presents the findings from an ongoing empirical ethics research project investigating the decision-making process of Indian individuals who create a family through adoption. Our aim is to discuss the strategies used by the adoptive parents and adoption agencies to ‘normalize’ and defend adoptive families in Indian socio-cultural-political ethos.
Between December 2020 and March 2021, we conducted 13 online (secure zoom call) in-depth interviews with 18 married Indian individuals (11 women, eight men) who have adopted a child in the last five years. Interviews with single Indian adoptive mothers are currently planned.
All except one couple chose adoption after several failed attempts to conceive naturally or through medically assisted reproduction. The legal process of adoption required substantial evidence that the child will be well-integrated into the socio-familial network of the adoptive parents, extended family and local community. To emphasize the ‘normality’ of their adoptive families, the adoptive parents and the adoption agencies creatively used local cultural traditions and rituals performed to celebrate family life.
The decision to adopt makes couples’ sub/infertility ‘visible’. By creatively engaging with the locally prevalent and relevant ‘visible’ rituals and celebrations of family life, the Indian adoptive families not only emphasize the ‘sameness’ and the ‘normality’ of their families but also expand the debate on biological versus social parenthood debate.
11:15 am
Advanced paternal age ethics: perspective from an expert panel
Prof. Vincent Couture | Université Laval | Canada
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Authors:
Prof. Vincent Couture | Université Laval | Canada
Émy Coiteux | Université Laval | Canada
Prof. Kévin Lavoie | Université Laval | Canada
Introduction
Evidence shows that the age of fathers at the time conception is correlated with detrimental effect for the health of the future children. This situation raises numerous ethical issues regarding the reproductive autonomy of men of advanced age, the wellbeing of their future children, the introduction of limits to the use of assisted reproductive technologies, and the development of public health interventions. For the moment, the ethical reflection on the topic is mostly speculative and we wanted to ground future work on empirical basis.
Methods
We recruited experts concerned by advanced paternal age (APA) with backgrounds in health sciences, ethics, social work and reproductive medicine. At the time of writing these lines, we are conducting the first round of a modified Delphi panel. The Delphi will be followed by a focus group aiming to develop a list of ethical issues sorted by importance.
Outcomes
Analysis of preliminary data points toward a higher degree of agreement to consider the balance of risks and benefits of APA as the most important issue. The next issue in the top list is how healthcare professionals should accompany their patients for APA. At the other extreme of the list, developing fair policies to promote earlier family building has been considered as the least important issue.
Conclusion
These preliminary results offer promising research avenues for bioethicists. Data collection is still ongoing. Upcoming analysis will allow offering a clearer portrait of the ethical priorities for ethical research on APA.
11:30 am
Whose voices do we hear? An analysis of egg donors’ blogs
Prof. Veerle Provoost | Ghent University | Belgium
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Authors:
Lara Jacxsens | Ghent University | Belgium
Dr. med. Priya Satalkar | Ghent University | Belgium
Prof. Veerle Provoost | Ghent University | Belgium
Introduction
Society frames egg donors as altruistic helpers. This is in line with cultural ideals of femininity: the idea of the selfless, altruistic woman who chose to self-sacrifice for others’ needs. Fertility clinics and intermediaries look for women (with marketable profiles) who are motivated by the ‘right’ reasons and in doing so, often publish and even edit egg donors’ testimonials. The aim of this study is to gain insight into egg donors’ embodied experiences of the medical process around egg donation.
Method
We analysed blogs written by egg donors: 1) blogs published on websites of organisations with a financial interest in egg donation and 2) those published independently. We used Narrative Analysis combined with Interdisciplinary Collaborative Auditing and Feminist Standpoint Theorists’ methodology which entails that we study this topic inductively (as much as possible avoiding priori categories and assumptions, especially those determined by dominant groups, e.g. staff and researchers).
Results
Our preliminary analysis confirms altruism (the wish ‘to help others’) as a general motivation. However, it also shows the donors’ critical understandings of the role of the medical staff, clinics and agencies and how these stakeholders frame the donor and her body, at times in contrast to her own experiences.
Discussion
We will demonstrate the role of organisations with a financial interest in creating and maintaining the image of the altruistically motivated egg donor by showing that donor’s embodied experiences are edited into a frame that suits this image.