We tend to give utilitarianism a hard time in “Pointed Remarks”. But sometimes we could do with a bit more utilitarianism. It might keep the media – and many doctors, too – from being so dewy-eyed about apparent successes. Take IVF, which celebrated, so to speak, its 40th anniversary this week, with the birthday of Louise Brown.
In some respects, IVF has been quite a success. An estimated 8 million IVF children have been born since then. A thriving industry has grown up, worth some US$15 billion, making lots of doctors, scientists, technicians and administrators very wealthy. That is the happiness side of the ledger.
But how about the women who endured cycle after cycle of IVF without conceiving? Their lives have been filled with suffering as a result. And there are far more of them than women who eventually conceived. How about the destruction of millions upon millions of human embryos? And how about the disturbing future of IVF – designer babies and genetically-engineered children? That is the pain side of the ledger. It hasn’t been quantified, of course, but it must be acknowledged. I would venture to say that the balance is negative.
Whether I’m right or wrong about that, I do think that we need a clearer vision of the negative side of assisted reproductive technology.
In some respects, IVF has been quite a success. An estimated 8 million IVF children have been born since then. A thriving industry has grown up, worth some US$15 billion, making lots of doctors, scientists, technicians and administrators very wealthy. That is the happiness side of the ledger.
But how about the women who endured cycle after cycle of IVF without conceiving? Their lives have been filled with suffering as a result. And there are far more of them than women who eventually conceived. How about the destruction of millions upon millions of human embryos? And how about the disturbing future of IVF – designer babies and genetically-engineered children? That is the pain side of the ledger. It hasn’t been quantified, of course, but it must be acknowledged. I would venture to say that the balance is negative.
Whether I’m right or wrong about that, I do think that we need a clearer vision of the negative side of assisted reproductive technology.
 Michael Cook Editor BioEdge |  |  |  |
NEWS THIS WEEK
by Michael Cook | Jul 28, 2018
Mixing the "desperation" of couples for a child and the "avarice" of private practice is a "dangerous combination".by Michael Cook | Jul 28, 2018
Most humans are chimerasby Michael Cook | Jul 28, 2018
Some feel the ban went too farby Michael Cook | Jul 28, 2018
And finds that it is not pleasantby Xavier Symons | Jul 28, 2018
Recent contributions to the literature have been particularly strident.by Xavier Symons | Jul 28, 2018
Authorities are now pro-natalist -- but Chinese society is not.by Michael Cook | Jul 27, 2018
Latest official report reveals reasonsby Michael Cook | Jul 27, 2018
And only one-third have been successfulIN DEPTH THIS WEEK
by Gary Lewis | Jul 27, 2018
Predatory journals masquerade as legitimate, mainstream journalsChina is struggling to undo a one-child culture
by Xavier Symons | 28 Jul 2018 |
In January 2016, the Chinese government formally abandoned its one child policy in favour of a two child law. And recent reports suggest that authorities are now considering abandoning population control policies all together.
Yet despite the government’s sudden change in outlook -- precipitated by an ageing population and dire economic forecasts -- authorities are struggling to encourage families to have more than one child. High living costs, long work hours and surging child-care expenses mean that many couples feel that they can only afford to have one child -- or none. In 2017, there were 17.6 million births in China, representing 12.43 births per thousand people. However, that was a drop from 2016, when the one-child policy was first relaxed -- a year that saw 12.95 births per 1,000 people.
Federal and provincial authorities are now mooting a range of policies designed to increase the birth rate. According to The Economist, several provinces now require women who are more than 14 weeks pregnant to secure the approval of three doctors in order to procure an abortion.
Health officials have taken to discouraging women from having Caesarean sections, arguing that they increase the risk of complications during a second pregnancy. Chinese courts are also beginning to tighten divorce rules by enforcing “cooling-off” periods after applications are filed—including, say critics, in some cases where a woman’s safety might be at risk.
The Times reported this week that the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the country’s peak health authority, is considering giving single women access to fertility services to help them conceive.
Yet some analysts suggest that even with these changes, it will be difficult to turn birth trends around. “China’s number of births will continue to drop dramatically, considering a sharp decrease in the number of fertile women and declining fertility willingness”, said Huang Wenzheng of the Center for China and Globalization, a Beijing-based think tank.
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