Ethics Considerations Regarding Artificial Womb Technology for the Fetonate

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Reproductive Technology
• Neonatal Medicine

Background:

• The advent of in vitro fertilization in the 1980s introduced ethical debates surrounding reproductive technologies.
• Recent advancements in extracorporeal life support have revived urgent ethical discussions on artificial womb technology (AWT).
• Current ethical discourse often focuses on hypothetical complete ectogenesis rather than imminent clinical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of the ethical literature concerning artificial womb technology (AWT).
• To analyze ethical considerations from abstract scenarios of complete ectogenesis to immediate applications in neonatal care.
• To frame ethical discussions within the stages of human gestational development, including the care of the fetal neonate (fetonate).

Main Methods:

• Scoping review of existing ethical literature on artificial womb technology.
• Analysis of ethical concerns related to different stages of human gestation.
• Identification of both established and emerging ethical issues.

Main Results:

• Ethical considerations for AWT range from distant concepts of complete ectogenesis to near-term neonatal support.
• The review categorizes ethical issues based on developmental stages, from conception to premature infants.
• Both pre-existing and novel ethical concerns regarding AWT and fetonate care are discussed.

Conclusions:

• Artificial womb technology necessitates a nuanced ethical evaluation, considering both future possibilities and current clinical realities.
• Ethical frameworks must adapt to address the care of the fetal neonate (fetonate) as AWT progresses.
• A comprehensive understanding of AWT's ethical landscape is crucial for responsible development and implementation.