SURROGACY – WOMEN'S RIGHT OF REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE

In the recent landmark case (PuttasamyVs Union of India)the Hon'bleSupreme Court of India dealt with two main reproductive rights, issues relating to surrogacy and reproductive freedom. The Supreme Court has held that Right to privacy is a fundamental right under Article 21 and to make her own reproductive choices of abortion within the fullment of the medical practitioners. As a result of this judgement, it will have an impact on women right of reproductive choice. In thispaperItry toexplore the validityofMedicalTerminationofPregnancyActinthe lightofSupremeCourt's judgementinPuttasamy caseandmy suggestionswithregardtowomen's rightofreproductivechoicewithreferencetosurrogacy. “The greatest good is what we do for one another” – Mother Teresa

The implementation of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands prenatal screening is offered as a mean to increase reproductive choices of couples. All women are counseled on the existing options by trained midwives. The government puts a great emphasis on informed choice and on womens’ opinions and reactions to screenings options. Since 2017 non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT, cf-DNA) is offered as first tier screening for aneuploidies in the genome-wide (GW) variant at the cost of 175 Euro’s. Uptake is around 50%. This screenings offer is perceived as unconventional for the traditionally cautious Dutch system.

Reproductive carrier screening: responding to the eugenics critique

Reproductive genetic carrier screening (RCS), when offered to anyone regardless of their family history or ancestry, has been subject to the critique that it is a form of eugenics. Eugenics describes a range of practices that seek to use the science of heredity to improve the genetic composition of a population group. The term is associated with a range of unethical programmes that were taken up in various countries during the 20th century. Contemporary practice in medical genetics has, understandably, distanced itself from such programmes. However, as RCS becomes more widespread, gains public funding and uses expanded gene panels, there are concerns that such programmes could be perceived as eugenic either in intent or outcome. The typical response to the eugenics critique of RCS is to emphasise the voluntary nature of both participating in screening and making subsequent reproductive choices. While safeguarding individuals’ freedom to choose in relation to screening is essential, we consider this response inadequate. By examining the specific ethical wrongs committed by eugenics in the past, we argue that to avoid the perception of RCS being a form of eugenics it is essential to attend to the broader normative context in which reproductive decisions occur. Furthermore, ethical RCS programmes must recognise and respond to their potential to shift societal norms that shape individual reproductive choices.

Peru: From Exclusionary Constitutionalism to a Transformative One, Progress and Remaining Challenges

This article covers the evolution of key gender relations issues in Peruvian constitutions for almost a century, from 1931 to 2021. It analyses the path travelled from the exclusion of women as citizens to the achievement of parity in political participation; the transformation of the equality clause into one that has the possibility to incorporate discrimination based on sexual orientation as a prohibited category; as well as changes in the conception of maternity protection by the State, until one arrives at a provision that recognizes the right of people to decide individually about their reproductive choices. The article also reports on the participation of women in the struggle for these gains, their initiatives both in formal and informal spaces, as well as the demands of first and second wave feminist movements. All these points are organised through categories coined by Ruth Rubio Marín, to understand constitutionalism from a gender perspective: exclusionary, inclusive, participatory, and transformative constitutionalism.

Reproductive Timing and Climate Change

It has been argued that the most impactful choice an individual could make, with respect to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, is to have fewer children. This paper brings up a related aspect of individuals’ reproductive choices that has been neglected in the climate ethics literature: the timing aspect. It is argued that, from a climate change perspective, it does not matter only how many children people bring into existence, but also when they are brought into existence. The reason is that the age at which parents choose to procreate affects the number of people that will live simultaneously on the planet, which is in turn relevant for climate change. This provides individuals another means by which they can decrease their emissions.

Women with Hemophilia: Case Series of Reproductive Choices and Review of Literature

Aim Very little is known regarding reproductive choices, pregnancy, and delivery of women with moderate to severe hemophilia. Our aim was to describe our experience with three hemophiliac women and their journey to achieve motherhood. Methods Medical charts of women with moderate to severe hemophilia A treated at our center were evaluated. Data regarding choices of conception, pregnancy course, mode of delivery, and pregnancy outcomes were obtained. Results Three women are presented. Whereas patient 1 chose to adopt her first child and later had twins through egg donations and a surrogate mother, patient 2 underwent spontaneous pregnancy and delivered via cesarean section. Patient 3 preferred in vitro fertilization and preimplantation genetic diagnosis to avoid hemophilia and hemophilia carriership in her offspring. Conclusion The appropriate means to achieve parenthood for women with moderate to severe hemophilia should be individualized and requires support of a comprehensive multidisciplinary team.