Reconceiving Reproduction: Removing “Rearing” From the Definition—and What This Means for ART

AbstractThe predominant position in the reproductive rights literature argues that access to assisted reproductive technologies (ART) forms part of an individual ’s right to reproduce. On this reasoning, refusal of treatment by clinicians (via provision) violates a hopeful parent’s reproductive right and discriminates against the infertile. I reject these views and suggest they wrongly contort what reproductive freedom entitles individuals to do and dema nd of others. I suggest these views find their origin, at least in part, in the way we define “reproduction” itself. This paper critically analyses two widely accepted definitions of human reproduction and demonstrates that both are fundamentally flawed. While the process of reproduction include s the biological acts of begetting and bearing a child, I argue that it does not extend to include rearing. This reworked definition has little impact in the realm of sexual reproduction. However, it has significant ethical implications for the formulation and assignment of reproductive rights and r esponsibilities in the non-sexual realm in two important ways. First, a claim to access ART where one has an intention to rear a child (but does not beget or bear) cannot be grounded in reproductive rights. Second, lacking an intention to rear does not extinguish the reproductive rights and responsi bilities for those who collaborate in the process. I conclude that clinicians collaborate in non-sexual reproduction at the point of t...
Source: Journal of Bioethical Inquiry - Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research