Oocyte Donation: Ethical Perspectives

Abstract

Oocyte donation is a means by which an infertile woman, who cannot produce her own ova, can have a child with the help of IVF and embryo transfer. Since it is a serious matter to donate one's gametes to another, both donor and recipient should be given sufficient information and counselling to enable them to make an informed choice and, as far as possible, to control the process. Forming a family by means of oocyte donation should also be seen within the broad context of the other various modes of family formation, namely by donor insemination, adoption, surrogacy, etc. The concept of 'the family' is a pluralistic one, as different forms of the family can coexist in our society. Family formation by oocyte donation should therefore not be considered to be deviant, or subversive of the traditional concept of the family.