The Moral Principles of Gamete Donor Screening

Gamete Donation is a widely accepted method which allows for individuals who may be limited by medical, genetic, or social reasons to conceive a child. While the ethics of gamete donation have been widely discussed, no discussion of the ethics of gamete donor screening and the different levels at which it can be understood has previously taken place. This paper discusses gamete donor screening in the context of Australia and proposes that there are three distinct levels to screening: legislation, donor banks, and individual selection. Through an examination of what has been deemed permissible to screen for and against at each level, conclusions are drawn regarding what moral principle is driving selection choices. The moral principles of procreative beneficence, procreative non-maleficence, and procreative justice are useful in understanding the motivations of screening choices at these three tiers. The paper concludes that, at each level of gamete donor screening, the key driving moral principle varies between procreative beneficence, procreative non-maleficence, and procreative justice. Conversations regarding ethical drivers and screening boundaries are important considering advances in reproductive technology. A firm understanding of what is ethically permissible to screen for and against holds the key to mitigating potential future injustices and prejudice rooted in specific traits and populations.