The Ethics of Sex Selection and Family Balancing

ABSTRACT

Ethical concerns about the ethics of selecting the sex of a child predate current techniques of prenatal genetic diagnosis (PGD) and sperm sorting. The only methods previously available were highly problematic, as they involved infanticide or abortion of an unwanted sex. PGD is less problematic than the earlier methods, yet still troubling to some because it involves destruction of a healthy embryo and risks to women. The technique of sperm sorting, still in an experimental phase, is the least ethically problematic method, yet opponents argue that sex selection by any means involves sex discrimination and can have undesirable consequences. One such consequence is an imbalance in the sex ratio. This imbalance already exists in some Asian countries that favor male children, but is less likely in Western Europe and North America. There is increasing acceptance of family balancing as a reason for sex selection, but some people remain opposed to broadening the indications for sex selection of offspring beyond family balancing. Nevertheless, parents may have good reasons other than family balancing for choosing the sex of a future child. Such reasons may be justified by the principle of reproductive liberty.

KEYWORDS

Sex selection - family balancing - sperm sorting - reproductive liberty

REFERENCES

• 1 Warren M A. Gendercide: The Implications of Sex Selection. Totowa, NJ; Rowman and Allanheld 1985
• 2 Kolata G. Fertility ethics authority approves sex selection. New York Times. September 28, 2001
• 3 Steinbock B. Sex selection: not obviously wrong.  Hastings Cent Rep. 2002;  32(1)3 23-28
• 4 The New York State Task Force on Life and the Law. Assisted Reproductive Technologies: Analysis and Recommendations for Public Policy. The New York State Task Force on Life and the Law. April 1998
• 5 Tooley M. Abortion and infanticide.  Philos Public Aff. 1972;  2(1) 37-65
• 6 Sex Selection & Abortion .India. Law Library of Congress. Available at: http://www.loc.gov/law/help/sex-selection/india.php Accessed August 31, 2009
• 7 India sex selection doctor jailed. BBC News. March 29, 2006. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4855682.stm Accessed August 31, 2009
• 8 Kusum K. Sex selection. In: Sureau C, Shenfield F Ethical Aspects of Human Reproduction. Paris, France; John Libbey Eurotext 1995: 302-304
• 9 Genetics & IVF Institute .MicroSort. Available at: http://www.microsort.net/ Accessed August 31, 2009
• 10 Glover J. Comments on some ethical issues in sex selection. In: Sureau C Shenfield F Ethical Aspects of Human Reproduction. Paris, France; John Libbey Eurotext 1995: 305-314
• 11 American Academy of Pediatrics . Treatment of critically ill newborns.  Pediatrics. 1983;  72(4) 565-566
• 12 Berkowitz J M, Snyder J W. Racism and sexism in medically assisted conception.  Bioethics. 1998;  12(1) 25-44
• 13 Bumiller E. May You Be the Mother of a Hundred Sons. New York, NY; Fawcett Columbine 1990
• 14 Guilmoto C Z. Sex-ratio imbalance in Asia: trends, consequences and policy responses. Available at: http://www.unfpa.org/gender/docs/studies/summaries/regional_analysis.pdf Accessed: August 31, 2009
• 15 4th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights, October 29–30. 2007 Available at: http://www.unfpa.org/gender/docs/studies/summaries/reg_exe_summary.pdf Accessed August 31, 2009
• 16 Kusum K. The use of pre-natal diagnostic techniques for sex selection: the Indian scene.  Bioethics. 1993;  7 149-165
• 17 Editorial. Too much yang, not enough yin. New York Times August 22, 1994
• 18 Human Fertilisation and Embryo Authority .Sex selection: choice and responsibility in human reproduction. 2003. Available at: http://www.hfea.gov.uk/docs/Sex_Selection_choice_and_responsibility.pdf Accessed August 31, 2009
• 19 Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine . Preconception gender selection for nonmedical reasons.  Fertil Steril. 2001;  75(5) 861-864
• 20 Robertson J A. Preconception gender selection.  Am J Bioeth. 2001;  1(1) 2-9
• 21 Pennings G. Ethics of sex selection for family balancing.  Hum Reprod. 1996;  11(11) 2339-2345
• 22 Holm S. Like a frog in boiling water: the public, the HFEA and sex selection.  Health Care Anal. 2004;  12(1) 27-39
• 23 Tizzard J. Sex selection, child welfare and risk: a critique of the HFEA's recommendations on sex selection.  Health Care Anal. 2004;  12(1) 61-68
• 24 Dahl E. Sex selection: laissez faire or family balancing?.  Health Care Anal. 2005;  13(1) 87-90 discussion 91-93
• 25 Roberts S.U.S .Births hint at bias for boys in some Asians. New York Times. June 14, 2009. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/nyregion/15babies.html Accessed August 31, 2009