The idea of growing babies outside the body has inspirednovels and moviesfor decades.
Now, research groups around the world are exploring the possibility of artificial gestation.
For instance, one groupsuccessfully grewa lamb in an artificial wombfor four weeks.
Australian researchers have also experimented withartificial gestation for lambsandsharks.
So its important to consider some of the ethical issues this technology might bring.
What is an artificial womb?
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And were already using a form of it.
When premature infants are transferred to humidicribs to continue their development in a neonatal unit, thats partial ectogenesis.
Eventually, we might be able to do away with human wombs altogether.
What would an artificial womb contain?
An artificial womb would need an outer shell or chamber.
Thats somewhere to implant the embryo and protect it as it grows.
In other words, researchers would have to build anartificial placenta.
Animal experiments have used a complexcatheter and pump systems.
So what are some of the ethical considerations?
Currently, those born earlier than 22 weeks gestation have little-to-no hope of survival.
And those born at 23 weeks are likely to suffer a range of disabilities.
It would also avoid exposing the growing fetus to external harms such as infectious diseases.
The technology might also make it easier toperform surgery on the fetusif needed.
This is particularly noteworthy considering some of thelargest private insurance payments are currently for neonatal intensive care unit expenses.
Similarly, it could allow single men and gay male couples to become parents without needing a surrogate.
Will it remove potential risks and expectations of pregnancy and childbirth currently only affecting women?
Will this eliminate commercial surrogacy?
Equally, artificial wombs could help fertile women who for health or personal reasons choose not to be pregnant.
Whether artificial wombs should be allowed to influence a womans right to chooseis already under debate.
Artificial wombs might also further increase the gap between rich and poor.
Existing disparities in nutrition and exposure to pathogens between pregnancies across socio-economic divides could also be exacerbated.
Artificial wombs might further increase the gap between rich and poor.
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This raises issues of distribution of access.
Will artificial wombs receive government funding?
If it does, who should decide who gets subsidized access?
Will there be a threshold to meet?
Other issues concern potential discrimination individuals born via an artificial womb may face.
Others might consider artificial wombs to be deeply repugnant and fundamentally against the natural reproductive order.
Preparing for future wombs
Currently, there is no prototype of an artificial womb for humans.
And the technology is very much in its infancy.
Yet we do need to consider ethical and legal issues before rushing headlong into this reproductive technology.
However, using them in other circumstances might need broader social and policy considerations.
Without first establishing clear regulatory and ethico-legal frameworks, the development and release of artificial wombs could be problematic.
We need to do this soon rather than allowing the law to lag behind the science.
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