POPLINE Document Number: 142251
Author(s):
Zegers-Hochschild F
Source citation:
HUMAN REPRODUCTION UPDATE, 1999 Jan-Feb;5(1):21-5.
Abstract:
This article analyzes how religion influences the way in which the medical profession, legislators, and the public in Latin America think about assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). Opposing views consider ARTs, and indeed most technology, to be either an artificial form of life or an expression of nature based in culture (and, therefore, something people have a right to use as a tool that can be considered a gift from God to be used to make God's work more effective). The dilemmas that ARTs pose are based on the myriad of choices available and on the need of some social actors to impose their own views and moralities on the rest of society, in effect attempting to exercise a moral dictatorship. The reproductive mandates of Catholicism have been specifically directed to legislators, who then refuse to implement laws that would respect moral diversity while individual citizens follow their own consciences instead of church dictates. The 1995 Latin American consensus offers minimal ethical guidelines on the various aspects of ARTs in the absence of legal regulation. It is important that ARTs be officially accepted, even if this entails restrictions. For the foreseeable future, access to ARTs in the region will, unfairly, be restricted to those who can afford private treatment.
Keywords:
Latin AmericaIndex page
Critique
Ethics
Attitude
Catholicism
Reproductive Technologies
Religious Aspects
Developing Countries
Americas
Psychological Factors
Behavior
Christianity
Religion
Reproduction