A Survey of People’s Attitude Towards the Artificial Womb and Ectogenesis in Israel

Abstract

As suggested elsewhere [1] and also in this volume (see Chapter 13), the artificial womb (AW) and ectogenesis – a child brought to term outside a biological womb, might become a reality sooner than we may think. Novel research in disparate areas (such as neonatal care, assisted reproduction, embryology, fetal surgery, computer science and the human genome project) are converging to this end. Society is also pressing in this direction. Society, at large, aims at saving very premature newborns, and demands better outcomes in IVF. Because of this pressure, both sides of the gestation process, its beginning and its end (conception and birth), are presently experiencing a massive research effort. Indeed, while there is sill a huge gap between the first stages of gestation (by IVF) and the 22nd week of gestation (inside the womb), plausibly, this gap will be eventually overcome. Ectogenesis has been addressed in many scientific – philosophical writing [2–4] as well as in popular media. And while some medical sources avoid today discussion on this topic, others choose to address the advent of the artificial womb as a matter of fact [5]. The artificial womb, however, is not exactly welcomed: most countries ban research on human embryos beyond day 14th. Canada has explicitly prohibited any research designed to add to the knowledge of ectogenesis [6]. Still, since prematurely born babies spend less time in a woman’s womb, the question of why and for how long an embryo ‘should’ be required to be in a woman’s womb (nine months; six; five? two days?) cannot be easily answered. Moreover, if proved one day to be safe, ectogenesis, might be a solution to avoid the need of a surrogate for women, who want a biological baby, but lack a womb (for any reason); and possibly also for homosexual male couples. It might also appeal to women, who may need IVF to reproduce; women may save time, pain, depression and endless frustration (when embryos fail to implant for instance).