ISSN Imprimir: 2151-805X
ISSN En Línea: 2151-8068
Maternity at Advanced Ages. Ethical Concerns Related to the Assisted Reproductive Technology from a Scientific and Religious Perspective
SINOPSIS
The current spectacular advancement of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) has finally made parenthood at advanced ages possible, though not necessarily safer. Physicians and older patients all around the world are willing to undergo various painstaking in vitro fertilization protocols. Several motivations may determine both physicians and older patients to make such a decision. Beyond the layer of subjectivity specific to one case or another, there are ethical concerns which must be carefully considered by stakeholders. This contribution aims to address the ethical connotations related to the use of reproductive technology on women of advanced age, by adopting multiple perspectives: those of the patients, those of the physicians, and those of civil society. Scientific points of view and religious convictions are also considered to illustrate important lessons and to identify the moral principles that should govern the attitude of each stakeholder. The context of a multicultural society, targeted sustainable development, and the globalization trend are all taken into account. Herein, I defend the right of humans to make use of any new progress registered by biomedical science and technology, but I express concern regarding the risks of their misuse.