The importance of being critical

Abstract

A critical attitude towards applications and arguments in the field of medically assisted reproduction is needed to make progress in the area. By challenging the accepted positions on practices such as elective egg freezing and gamete donation, it has become evident that the arguments are flawed. First, elective egg freezing does not promote or hinder women's emancipation. It could even be argued that elective egg freezing is a consequence of the successful emancipation of the group of highly educated women who, as a result, can inadvertently no longer find the right partner. Second, openness and donor identifiability are presented as progress in gamete donation. This places undue emphasis on a bionormative ideology that runs counter to the core principles of gamete donation. It attributes great value to genetic relationships rather than focusing on social relationships. However, given the importance that Western societies attach to this ideology, some donor-conceived persons are harmed and their well-being is negatively affected. This, in turn, generates a moral obligation for would-be parents to try to have genetically related children.