Exploitation, structural injustice, and the cross-border trade in human ova

Bibliographic Data

ID12892913
AuthorsMonique Deveaux (0009-0007-8194-6269, University of Guelph, corresponding author)
Year2016
Volume12
Issue1
Pages48-68
Publication date2016-01-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Global Ethics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1744-9626 • E-ISSN: 1744-9634
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17449626.2016.1149089
OpenAlexW2316503745
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited61

Global demand for human ova in in vitro fertilization has led to its expansion in countries with falling average incomes and rising female unemployment. Paid egg donation in the context of national, regional, and global inequalities has the potential to exploit women who are socioeconomically vulnerable, and indeed there is ample evidence that it does. Structural injustices that render women in middle-income countries – and even some high-income countries – economically vulnerable contribute to a context of ‘omissive coercion’ (Wilkinson 2003 Wilkinson, S. 2003. “The Exploitation Argument Against Commercial Surrogacy.” Bioethics 17 (2): 169–187. doi: 10.1111/1467-8519.00331[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) that is morally troubling. When egg brokers or fertility clinics take advantage of these background structural injustices and prospective ova providers’ vulnerability in order to pay them less than they need to meet their livelihood needs, they engage in exploitation. Analyzing paid egg donation as a form of reproductive labor, however, can direct our attention to reforms that would reduce exploitative instances of this practice. In contrast to those who see egg provision as inescapably commodifying and harmful, I argue that compensated egg provision can be made less exploitative. I defend my approach against commodification-driven analyses of egg donation and concerns about undue inducement, and conclude by discussing some of the ways in which policy-makers and medical practitioners might reduce the harms that may result from this global practice

Bioethics · Business · Commodification · Context (archaeology · Economic growth · Economic Justice · Economics · Economy · Egg donation · Global justice · Injustice · Livelihood · Political science · Sociology · Vulnerability (computing · Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy · Law · Medicine · Organ Donation and Transplantation · Reproductive Health and Technologies

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