Making babies without sex: the law and the profits.

Abstract

The author reviews scientific and societal developments in artificial reproductive technologies during the past year in the U.S., the United Kingdom, and Australia. Successful births resulted from surrogate embryo transfer and from transfer of an embryo following in vivo fertilization. Recommendations on social policy were made by Australia's Waller Committee, Britain's Warnock Committee, and U.S. congressional hearings. Annas stresses the need to define parenthood and restrict commercialization of childbearing through the enactment of legislation, the promulgation of guidelines for sound clinical practice, and the establishment of an interdisciplinary body to monitor developments and the need for further regulation.