Gender and Law at Durham, Durham University, Durham, UK
Centre for Ethics in Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
J Med Ethics. 2022 Nov;48(11):810-815. doi: 10.1136/medethics-2021-107902. Epub 2022 Apr 22.
Uterus transplantation (UTx) is highly anticipated for the benefits that it might bring to individuals wanting to carry a pregnancy in order to reproduce who do not have a functioning uterus. The surgery-now having been performed successfully in several countries around the world-remains experimental. However, UTx is at some point expected to become a routine treatment for people without a uterus and considering themselves in need of one: women with absolute uterine factor infertility; transgender women; and even cisgender men who wish to gestate. Given the unique benefits UTx offers, uteri are likely to be 'in demand', and such demand, we suggest, will feasibly outstrip supply. Therefore, allocation of those uteri available for transplant may become a pressing issue. In this paper, we consider one aspect of organ allocation-the preferences of donors in making a directed or conditional donation of their uterus. To what extent, in the context of uterus donation, would such donations be ethically permissible?
子宫移植(UTx)有望为那些希望怀孕生育但没有子宫的人带来好处。这项手术现在已经在世界上几个国家成功实施,但仍然处于试验阶段。然而,预计在某个时候,UTx 将成为没有子宫且认为自己需要子宫的人的常规治疗方法:子宫因素不孕的女性;跨性别女性;甚至希望怀孕的顺性别男性。鉴于 UTx 带来的独特益处,子宫可能会“供不应求”,我们认为,这种需求很可能超过供应。因此,分配可用于移植的子宫可能成为一个紧迫的问题。在本文中,我们考虑了器官分配的一个方面——捐赠者在定向或有条件捐赠子宫方面的偏好。在子宫捐赠的背景下,这种捐赠在多大程度上在伦理上是允许的?