This chapter highlights new ethical horizons in gestational
surrogacy and reviews the emerging scientific evidence to show how maternal-fetal
cell exchange (microchimerism) may affect the future health of both surrogate
and fetus/child. Gestational surrogacy has become an increasingly popular,
viable, and global option for couples including those unable to conceive or
carry a fetus to term gay/lesbian couples, and couples/women who want a
genetically related child without undergoing pregnancy. Gestational surrogacy
occurs when a woman allows a 4-7-day embryo that was not generated from her own
egg to develop in her uterus. In this paper, we review emerging scientific
evidence to show how maternal-fetal cell exchange (microchimerism) may affect
the future health of both surrogate and fetus/child. In light of these
findings, we propose that four aspects of gestational surrogacy be examined:
(1) the medical health and psychological outcomes of maternal-fetal cell
exchange in surrogacy, (2) surrogacy laws and contractual agreements between
the various parties, (3) provisions of a more comprehensive genetic family
history and genetic screening from all parties involved, and (4) appreciation
of the ethical and social complexities of surrogacy. We support gestational surrogacy provided
that there is comprehensive informed consent. To be comprehensive, consent
should include our current understanding of microchimerism with respect to the
medical, legal, genetic, and ethical elements of surrogacy. This study supports
that in the case of gestational surrogacy, full informed consent is obtained.
In order to be thorough, consent ought to take into account the present
comprehension of microchimerism concerning the ethical, legal, medical, and
genetic aspects of surrogacy.
Author(s)details:-
John D. Loike
Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics and Center for Bioethics,
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032,
USA.
Ruth L. Fischbach
Center for Bioethics, Columbia University College of Physicians and
Surgeons, 630 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Please See the book
here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mria/v3/6917E
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