LibGuides: Ethical Topics: Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

ART: background

The ethics of ART
From the Adelaide Centre of Bioethics and Culture, detailed information about ART and the ethical concerns of the destruction of embryos.
Why legalising commercial surrogacy is a good idea
From The Conversation (opinion) this article argues the case of legalising commercial surrogacy for the protection of women and children.
Fertility treatments: basics
From the BBC, a simple explanation of IVF (in vitro fertilisation).
Surrogate motherhood in India
Understanding and evaluating the effects on gestational surrogacy on women's health and rights.
From topics as diverse of poverty alleviation, psychological attachment, and moral exploitation, reaching a personal opinion on outsourcing surrogacy is not an easy matter.
Advanced Reproductive Technology is Here. But Who Decides Who Gets Access?
The future of reproductive technology has many excited about its potential to allow biological birth for those who might not otherwise have been capable of it.
Victoria’s world-first change to share sperm or egg donors’ names with children
New legislation provides greater access to sperm and egg donors’ details, while acknowledging some donors’ concerns.

4 Corners episode exploring the ethical implications of the commercial IVF industry.

ART: a Catholic viewpoint

In the Old Testament, Elkanah says to his wife who was unable to conceive,

"Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart so sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?" (1 Samuel 1:1-12.2 NRSV)

Reproductive technologies and the Vatican
Editorial article discussing the view from the Vatican about ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology)
It (instruction) opposed all technological interventions into the process of human reproduction. More specifically, the document condemned artificial insemination and embryo transfer, in vitro fertilization, and surrogate motherhood under all circumstances.
Begotten not made: a Catholic view of reproductive technology
This information explains why the Church believes that IVF is wrong.
But children are not engendered by technology or produced by an industry. Children should arise from an act of love between a husband and wife, in cooperation with God. No human being can "create" the image of God. That is why we say that human beings "procreate" with God. Engendering children is a cooperative act among husband, wife, and God himself. Children, in the final analysis, should be begotten not made.
The gift of a child
Reference in the Catechism.
Donum Vitae: original document
Donum Vitae: Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation
Original document.
Biomedical research and the teaching of the Church.
A summary of the Donum Vitae
A summary and explanation to the questions arising from the Donum Vitae.
'Dignitas Personae': a new Vatican document on bioethics
The Instruction Dignitas Personae on Certain Bioethical Questions was released by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in December 2008. This new Vatican document about in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and embryo experimentation is an update of a document written twenty years ago, Donum Vitae (1987), and seeks to address the questions raised by recent developments in biomedical research.

In Vitro Fertilization and the Church's Teaching
Ray Campbell Director, Queensland Bioethics Centre

Summary of Dignitas Personae
Summary of papal encyclical, Dignitas Personae.
Dignitas personae – the dignity of a person, which must be recognized in every human being from conception to natural death.

ART: other religious viewpoints

Islam and ARTs
Lengthy article examining all types of ART and associated teachings of Islam. Skim and scan this document for headings and summary paragraphs for the information.

The Islamic Viewpoint On New Assisted Reproductive Technologies
This Article gives a brief overview of Islamic views on assisted reproductive technologies
(ARTs). Islamic law is applied to ARTs to determine what may be lawful and/or moral and what may be impermissible. The article examines artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, surrogacy and cloning.
14 pages in length.
Human life cycle and the Beginning of Life: An Islamic Perspective
The consensus is that from the moment a zygote is formed, it deserves a unanimously recognized degree of respect. The occurrence of ensoulment after 40 days should not be taken as a prelude to justify unaccepted tampering with on a man-to-be developing zygote.

Jewish Medical Ethics
Assisted Reproduction and Judaism.
Nowadays most rabbis agree that the commandment to populate the world is so important that many modern technological developments for assisting infertile couples may be permitted by Jewish law.
Jewish Surrogate Motherhood
Rabbis across the denominational spectrum question the morality of surrogacy, but some believe that these concerns can be allayed.
In Vitro Fertilization: Jewish Considerations
Most Jewish authorities permit test tube conception, but worry about what to do with the unneeded genetic material.

Buddhism
According to the Buddha, life begins at conception or soon after and so the destruction of fertilised eggs would probably be an infringement of the first Precept. IVF also raises several serious legal, economic and emotional concerns (e.g. ownership of the unused eggs, the excessive expense of the procedure meaning that the poor are usually unable to afford it and the low success rate of approximately 15%. - See more at:
Buddhist arguments for and against fertility treatments
Recently scientists have developed techniques to help infertile couples have children. Buddhists must balance their desire for compassion with the potential suffering caused by craving.

Hinduism's View on Infertility
What is the Hindu religions stance on infertility?
By Anjana Chatterjee and Dr. Deepak Kotecha
Once medical and emotional contributors are mitigated, persistent sterility is viewed by Hinduism as karmic or divine. Hinduism understands and accepts divine and karmic influence in all aspects of life.

Resources

Catechism of the Catholic Church
Search here for a table of contents, index and how to read the Catechism as well as a search box for the Catechism.
Bible Gateway
The online Bible.
Select the NRSV edition.
The Qu'ran
The Holy Quran Arabic Text with English Translation, Commentary and comprehensive Introduction by Maulana Muhammad Ali Year 2002 Edition
The Tablet
Login to The Tablet automatically while on site. See the Learning Commons staff for the username and password for off-site access.

ART: Multiple faith perspective

Religious perspectives on ART
This is a detailed and comprehensive article outlining the perspective of various religions on ART (Buddhist, Islam, Catholic, Judaism, Protestant and Hindu).
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Commentaries on a hypothetical case from scholars representing six major religious traditions. The commentaries do not attempt to exhaustively survey the relevant discourse or views within these traditions, and other members of these traditions may well draw alternative conclusions from the same or different authoritative sources. The commentaries do, however, offer the considered responses of leading experts from each religious tradition and each are grounded in the key texts and in scholarly and popular interpretations of the respective doctrines.
Assisted reproductive practice: religious perspectives
All facets of ART are explored from all religious perspectives in this authoritative article.