The Comodification of Embryos
The Boston Globe has an interesting piece in the OP-Ed section by bioethicist Osagie k. Obasogie entitled, "'Wal-Martization' of embryos." He begins his article with this paragraph:
Obasogie notes that for the many infertile couples seeking help the price for a pregnancy can run as high as $45000. Ryan hopes to offer a stripped down, more efficient operation that will cost couples around $10000. Her marketing presents the sperm origination with Ivy League men and women with "Faberge quality" eggs.
One of the issues that concerns Obasogie is the money involved in assisted reproduction: it is currently a $3 billion industry, there is little regulation, and the number of new centers like Ryan's is increasing dramatically. He writes, "With assisted reproduction's current state, we have the worst of both worlds: baby-making is being turned over to the market without really considering whether that's where it belongs while we're also refusing to establish rules to keep businesses honest. This regulatory abyss has hit Massachusetts hard, leading to its growing reputation as a 'go to' place for fertility treatment."
What thoughts do you have about Obasogie's concerns?
Jenalee Ryan has just opened the Abraham Center of Life in San Antonio, Texas, billing it as "the world's first human embryo band." Put bluntly, Ryan sells infertile couples their choice of designer embryos that, after being brought to term, become designer babies. Matching what Ryan considers "attractive and intelligent" sperm and egg donors, she designs and brokers embryos for people looking to have the perfect child.
Obasogie notes that for the many infertile couples seeking help the price for a pregnancy can run as high as $45000. Ryan hopes to offer a stripped down, more efficient operation that will cost couples around $10000. Her marketing presents the sperm origination with Ivy League men and women with "Faberge quality" eggs.
One of the issues that concerns Obasogie is the money involved in assisted reproduction: it is currently a $3 billion industry, there is little regulation, and the number of new centers like Ryan's is increasing dramatically. He writes, "With assisted reproduction's current state, we have the worst of both worlds: baby-making is being turned over to the market without really considering whether that's where it belongs while we're also refusing to establish rules to keep businesses honest. This regulatory abyss has hit Massachusetts hard, leading to its growing reputation as a 'go to' place for fertility treatment."
What thoughts do you have about Obasogie's concerns?
posted by UCC Medfield at 7:21 AM
1 Comments:
WOW. I am really sorry for these people. I think most parents as imperfect as we are are in awe of how much we love our children. Warts and all they are perfect to us.
These services though are a reflection of the state of our culture. I wonder if the children of these procedures will get a chance to grow up to feel truly unconditional love.
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