Legal, ethical and regulatory aspects of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

© Cambridge University Press 2013. Legal and ethical issues in assisted reproduction are numerous and complex and cannot be covered in their entirety in this chapter. Our aim is to discuss assisted reproduction in the English legal system in some depth, while differing approaches to regulation by other countries are addressed in less detail. Using clinical examples, a number of difficult ethical questions are raised in order to introduce the reader to some basic moral theories, but more important to provoke thought and discussion. Assisted reproduction and the law Internationally there are two main approaches to the regulation of assisted reproduction treatments (ART). First, countries such as the UK, Germany and most of Scandinavia have passed laws covering most aspects of ART. Second, many other countries such as the USA have fewer laws in this area, and the regulation of fertility treatments is overseen by professional bodies. There is much debate in the field of assisted reproduction as to where the balance should lie between professional standard setting and legislation.