The Confucian Case for a Married Couple's Social Embryo Freezing.

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Chinese Philosophy
• Reproductive Technology Ethics

Background:

• Current policies in China differentiate between social and medical egg/embryo freezing.
• Single women cannot undergo social egg freezing, and married couples are prohibited from social embryo freezing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To argue against the prohibition of social embryo freezing for married couples using Confucian virtue ethics.
• To refute the moral justifications for the current ban on social embryo freezing.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Confucian virtue ethics.
• Ethical argumentation and refutation of counterarguments.

Main Results:

• The prohibition of social embryo freezing for married couples lacks moral justification within Confucian ethics.
• Existing arguments supporting the ban are morally unfounded.

Conclusions:

• The ban on social embryo freezing for married couples should be lifted.
• State power should not prohibit social embryo freezing simply because it is not an ideal reproductive choice.