Regulation of assisted reproduction in the USA - A just target or a target of unfair criticism?

摘要

Soon after the first IVF clinics opened their doors, sensible voices within this emerging field contemplated the many facets and complexities of manipulating reproduction. The new reproductive options were often debated publicly, and ethical and safety guidelines were proposed by IVF pioneers, interest groups and legislators. Several decades have passed, yet there has been no uniformity in this international effort. Some countries, most notably Australia, Belgium and the UK, have had effective regulatory systems in place for some time. Powerful advocacy groups were often given front seats during legislative processes. A disparity between regulatory systems arose internationally, leading sometimes to guidelines and laws that do not always represent the best interest of the patient. This situation could seem chaotic both to insiders and to those watching from outside the field. In some countries such as Austria and Germany, the number of oocytes that can be inseminated is strictly limited, in spite of the overwhelming scientific evidence that the majority of oocytes are abnormal and unlikely to lead to pregnancy, particularly in reproduc-tively older women (Christopikouetal., 2013).