Designing a policy framework to regulate the ethically charged, scientifically complex field of assisted reproduction has been challenging for the federal and provincial governments. The 2004 Assisted Human Reproduction Act was partially struck down by the courts, and now Ottawa is trying to update the legislation by adding provisions in areas like sperm and egg donations, and payment of donors and surrogates, among others. In this series, some of Canada’s top experts look at aspects of assisted reproduction policy that require a compassionate, carefully designed approach, including frozen embryo storage, genetic testing and gene modification, transnational challenges involving donors and the children of surrogates, as well as the need to involve citizens in the policy-making process.
Photo: Shutterstock/By Natalya Chumak
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