Assisted Reproductive Technologies Helping Infertile Couples or Using Minor Girls in Poverty; Boon or Bane?

Abstract

According to WHO data, one in every four couples in developing countries is affected by infertility, and the prevalence remains high year by year. Infertility is considered to be a globally concerned health issue, which affects millions of people of reproductive age worldwide. Nowadays in our modern and developing field of medicine, we have different solutions and treatments for almost each and every disease. Treatment for infertility varies based on the cause, from simple psychological therapy to some complicated procedures. All these procedures are regulated by World Health Organization and their own country’s legislation. Each country has uniqueness in their legislation, but almost all countries mainly focus on ethics, medical outcomes and health of both donor and recipients. However, in some parts of the world, laws are sometimes over-ruled and not abided properly. One of such recent incident took part in southern part of India (4 private hospitals in Tamilnadu, and 2 more hospitals in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala), which made a shocking news for people all over the country. The minor girl aged 16 years was exploited as egg (oocyte) donor. In the modern world, we are focusing and researching more and more on female related health problems, but such incidents worry us. We have a responsibility to prevent from such dreadful incidents in future, since respective governments and courts proceed the case for veracity and justice. As doctors or medical professionals, we have to follow our own medical and professional ethics. And as a citizen, all people including doctors and patients must obey our countries own rules and regulations accordingly. Further we request government authorities to make procedures and laws to be more strict and highly punishable when violated.