With advances in assisted reproductive technology, such as a new prenatal test that analyzes the blood of pregnant women, which is pointed out to lead to life selection, and examines chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus, and infertility treatment that receives sperm from a third party. Therefore, there are ethical issues that cannot be judged by experts alone.
The Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology has submitted a proposal to the government to discuss these issues and establish a public institution to set the direction.
The proposal was compiled by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and submitted to the Minister in charge of declining birthrate Noda, who has jurisdiction over child policy, on the 17th.
In assisted reproductive technology, academic societies and others have decided to apply new technologies, but new prenatal tests, which are pointed out in the proposal that may lead to life selection, are widely performed at non-approved facilities of academic societies. It is said that there are issues that cannot be judged by experts alone, such as guaranteeing the right of a child born by receiving the donation of eggs and sperm from a third party to know the origin.
And while the number of children born by assisted reproductive technology is increasing to 1 in 14, we will discuss issues widely so that children can be raised with peace of mind, decide the direction of solution, and provide information on eggs and sperms. We are requesting the establishment of a public institution for centralized management.
According to the academic society, Minister Noda said after receiving the proposal, "I would like to positively consider it at the Children's and Family Affairs Agency, which is aiming to be launched in April next year."
Mikio Mikami, Chairman of the Ethics Committee of the Society, said, "As technology advances rapidly and ethics change, it is essential to establish a public institution in order to respond continuously."