Comparative analysis of ethical standards for the utilization of Assisted Reproductive Technologies in Brazil: Resolutions from 1992 to 2023.

Abstract

Due to its documented records and technological achievements, in vitro embryo creation technology is still honored worldwide forty years after Louise Brown's birth on July 25, 1978. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that one in six people globally who are of reproductive age may have infertility at some point in their lives. In this environment, it has become noteworthy for couples or patients to want to become pregnant through operations carried out by Assisted Human Reproduction Centers (AHRCs). This continual quest for AHRCs has already been demonstrated in Brazil, where data from the National Embryo Production System (SISEMBRIO) show that as of 2022, there were around 192 clinics nationally that offered AHRC services, and a total of 284,210 frozen embryos. The ethical conundrums that these techniques provide persist notwithstanding their remarkable success in helping patients achieve clinical pregnancies and viable embryos. The absence of legislation on reproductive assistance is another significant factor pertaining to Brazilian regulatory resolutions. As a result, clinics, hospitals, and sperm banks operating in this field are required to adhere to guidelines created by the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM). The first resolution was published on September 30, 1992. In light of the aforementioned, acquiring and keeping an eye on the standards that the CFM has developed over time helps enhance knowledge of the moral and legal framework that governs Brazil. Thus, the current study attempts to provide a comparative analysis of Brazilian ethical norms regarding the use of assisted human reproduction technology.