Patentability of time-lapse monitoring has nothing to do with human dignity: a response to Alain Pottage

Publication date: Available online 30 August 2018Source: Reproductive BioMedicine OnlineAuthor(s): Iñigo de Miguel Beriain, Begoña SanzAbstractIn December 2017, Alain Pottage published an article denying the patentability of a technique called Time-Lapse Monitoring (TLM). His argument was that this procedure, like all other embryo selection procedures, fails to respect human dignity. Here, we argue that this statement is mistaken because assisted reproductive technologies (ART) require a scarce resource, namely a woman's uterus in the right physiological condition. Therefore, embryo selection using TLM is entirely appropriate, as it is not possible to guarantee that all of them will have access to the environment they need to develop. Hence, the use of techniques designed to maximize the number of live births and minimize the suffering of women who undergo failed embryo transfers is a moral obligation.
Source: Reproductive BioMedicine Online - Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: research