IVF, same-sex couples and the value of biological ties

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelfagfællebedømt

Ought parents, in general, to value being biologically tied to their children? Is it important, in particular, that both parents be biologically tied to their children? I will address these fundamental questions by looking at a fairly new practice within IVF treatments, so-called IVF-with-ROPA (Reception of Oocytes from Partner), which allows lesbian couples to 'share motherhood', with one partner providing the eggs while the other becomes pregnant. I believe that IVF-with-ROPA is, just like other IVF treatments, morally permissible, but here I argue that the increased biological ties which IVF-with-ROPA allows for do not have any particular value beside the satisfaction of a legitimate wish, because there is no intrinsic value in a biological tie between parents and children; further, I argue that equality within parental projects cannot be achieved by redistributing biological ties.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftJournal of Medical Ethics
Vol/bind42
Udgave nummer12
Sider (fra-til)784-787
Antal sider4
ISSN0306-6800
DOI
StatusUdgivet - dec. 2016

ID: 166195197