Considering the Impact of Socio-Cultural Factors on the Regulation of ART regarding Egg Donation in East Asia

• In Event: Reproductive Governance in East Asia

Abstract

The purpose of this presentation is to examine how socio-cultural factors influence IVF with egg donation, and how they reflect on the regulation of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). We examined these factors by conducting fieldwork, studying legislation, and collecting statistics about ART in South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Despite these three countries facing common social issues, such as low birth rates and governmental policies of pronatalism, the regulation and practice of ART varies. Japan has no laws regulating ART but the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) issues guidelines. According to these guidelines, since the late 1990’s only a few clinics or hospitals have been permitted to arrange noncommercial egg donations, mainly from the recipient’s sister. However, a recent study discovered that around 300 babies are born a year through egg donation procedures undertaken in foreign countries. South Korea enacted the Bioethics and Safety Act in 2005 that includes an article to protect donors and prohibit commercial egg donation. Taiwan enacted the Artificial Reproduction Act in 2007, which allows foreigners to receive eggs from anonymous donors in exchange for a small token of their gratitude. According to the Taiwanese government, more than 400 Japanese couples underwent IVF with egg donation in a small number of fertility clinics from April 2014 to May 2016. This study conducts a comparative analysis of the logic informing ART regulation using the statistical information collected, in context of the social and cultural backgrounds of the three countries involved.

Authors

• Azumi Tsuge, Meijigakuin University

• Hyunsoo Hong, Department of Public Policy, Human Genome Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University o

• Minori KOKADO, Osaka University, Japan