Oncofertility Consortium and Center for Bioethics, Science & Society, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Superior, Lurie 10-231 Chicago, IL 60611-3015, USA.
J Med Ethics. 2011 Mar;37(3):166-70. doi: 10.1136/jme.2010.038588. Epub 2011 Jan 18.
Ovarian tissue transplantation is an experimental procedure that can be used to treat both infertility and premature menopause. Working within the current legal framework in the USA, I examine whether ovarian tissue should be legally treated like gametes or organs in the case of ovarian tissue transplantation between two women. One option is to base classification upon its intended use: ovarian tissue used to treat infertility would be classified like gametes, and ovarian tissue used to treat premature menopause would be classified like organs. In the end, however, I argue that this approach will not work because it engenders too many legal, cultural and logistical concerns and that, at least for the near future, we should treat ovarian tissue like gametes.
卵巢组织移植是一种可以用于治疗不孕和早发性绝经的实验性程序。在美国现行法律框架内,我研究了在两名女性之间进行卵巢组织移植的情况下,卵巢组织是否应在法律上被视为配子或器官。一种选择是根据其预期用途进行分类:用于治疗不孕的卵巢组织应被归类为配子,用于治疗早发性绝经的卵巢组织应被归类为器官。然而,最终我认为这种方法行不通,因为它会引发太多法律、文化和后勤方面的问题,而且至少在不久的将来,我们应该将卵巢组织视为配子。