IVF dish with drops of material and micromanipulators over it in the laboratory of the in vitro fertilization. Macro photo with selective focus. Horizontal.

Hastings Center News

On the Ballot: Bioethical Implications of Reproductive Technologies

In vitro fertilization and other reproductive technologies are major issues in this year’s elections. Hastings Center President Vardit Ravitsky and colleagues created and analyzed the first dataset of 20 years of publications on the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) that they raise. Here is a roundup of their findings.

–Research about the ELSI implications of assisted reproductive technologies is influenced by cultural and value-based perspectives. It impacts regulations, funding, and clinical practice, and shapes the perception of assisted reproduction technologies in society. Read more.

–The research on the ELSI of assisted reproductive technology has become increasingly global, with a trend towards decentralization of research, which means that more countries – and hence more cultural values – are being studied. North America and Western Europe are still responsible for more than 70% of the research, while China and Japan had limited participation in the global discussion.  Read more.

–Preimplantation genetic testing has attracted considerable ELSI scrutiny, but academic debate often fails to reflect clinical realities. Read more.

–The broad applications of fertility preservation for both medical and nonmedical reasons, require ELSI attention. There is a need for understanding non-Western perspectives and ensuring equitable access to fertility preservation globally. Read more. (Subscription required.)

–Donated gametes offer hope to countess people but have profound ELSI challenges. To better understand them, Ravitsky and colleagues call for integrating diverse cultural narratives and expanding the geographical breadth of future research. Read more. (Subscription required.)