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HEC Forum (2011) 23:1530
DOI 10.1007/s10730-010-9145-2
Aaron D. Levine
Published online: 19 December 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010
Abstract In vitro fertilization using donated oocytes is an important medical technique that provides the only option for some infertile patients to have children. The technique remains ethically contentious, however, and, as a result of this controversy, different oversight approaches have been developed in countries around the world. This paper examines the oversight and practice of oocyte donation in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States to examine how policy choices have inuenced the development and use of this medical technology. Examining per capita utilization of oocyte donation in these three countries provides evidence that supply-side policiesspecically policies affecting the compensation of potential oocyte donorshave substantially inuenced the use of this technology. These results should provide useful insight for policymakers developing or revising oocyte donation policies.
Keywords Assisted reproduction Oocyte donation Infertility
Introduction
In the more than three decades since the rst healthy child was born through in vitro fertilization (IVF) (Steptoe and Edwards 1978), the technique has increased rapidly in popularity and is now a standard medical approach for the treatment of infertility. In 2007, the most recent year for which data are available, IVF accounted for more than 1.3% of births in the United States.
In a standard IVF procedure, oocytes are extracted from the intended mother and fertilized with sperm from the intended father. This approach cannot be used,
A. D. Levine (&)
School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, 685 Cherry Street, Atlanta, GA 30332-0345, USAe-mail: [email protected]
The Oversight and Practice of Oocyte Donationin the United States, United Kingdom and Canada
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however, when infertility results from the intended mothers inability to produce viable oocytes. In this case, donated oocytes may be used. The rst birth following IVF using donated oocytes occurred in Australia in 1983 (Lutjen et al. 1984) and the use of donated oocytes quickly spread and became an option for infertile patients around the world.
The advent and growth of IVF and oocyte donation raised both ethical and policy concerns (e.g., Grobstein et al. 1983; Robertson 1988, 1989; Steinbock 2004). These included concerns about the health of both mothers using IVF...