Issue of Donor Autonomy in Ovum Donation

By Maria Coluccio

At the time of birth, females have approximately 2,000,000 immature eggs and cannot produce anymore throughout their lifetime. A large majority of these eggs will die out throughout the course of a woman’s lifetime. Only approximately 400 out of the %0.02 will mature naturally. Women who are unable to conceive due to having no eggs or poor egg quality are able to become pregnant through ovum donations. As the popularity of ovum donation increases, so does the number of ethical challenges. One important ethical consideration is over the donor’s autonomy.  Woman may be donating their eggs because of financial need, rather than altruistic reasons.  In 1989, the World Health Organization created a resolution to prevent the purchase and sale of human organs for transplantation. The problem with this resolution is the definition of compensation. There is much controversy surrounding the distinction between covering the donor’s expenses for the procedure and the donor profiting financially from the donation. There are also the added ethical dilemma in creating the commodification of the human body. These ethical dilemmas are similar to questions raised regarding organ donation; however, there is the added complication of these procedures are being performed for life creating, rather than life saving purposes.

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