Introduction Women without functioning uteruses now have a real chance of making their motherhood dreams come true with a radical new surgical procedure that involves a uterus transplant. Mats Brannstrom, the Swedish doctor who was the first in the world to deliver babies from transplanted uteruses, has successfully delivered about half a dozen babies from transplanted uteruses so far (“First baby from a uterus transplant in the U.S. born in Dallas,” 1). In the United States, the first baby was born from a transplanted uterus in December of 2017, in Dallas. As promising as it is, a uterus transplant birth is a relatively risky medical procedure, though, and one that has raised some questions about the efficacy and ethics of this remarkable intervention. However, as long as full disclosure is made to patients, who make their decisions autonomously and with informed consent, transplanted uterine deliveries should certainly be an option for women.

In Favor Of

There are several strong arguments in favor of offering this medical marvel to women who wish it. The strongest argument in favor of transplanted uterus births is the ethic of patient autonomy. A woman who has access to a medical procedure, who is informed about the pros and cons of that procedure, and who makes her decisions with the full awareness and support of the medical team...

The treatment exists, and in spite of being risky, presents one of the most exciting new options in assisted reproductive technologies. Other reasons why healthcare workers should participate in this procedure is that doing so would promote new research and thereby potentially improve the technology and techniques being used. Furthermore, the option to carry her own child is one that would alleviate the psychological suffering many women feel when they are unable to become a biological mother. Both utilitarian and deontological arguments support the use of transplanted uteruses as a viable assisted reproductive technology. Deontology promotes the duty of the healthcare worker to support patient autonomy and individual choice. Utilitarian ethics show how the technology creates the greatest good for the greatest number, and maximizes the happiness of the patient and the patient’s family. In sum, the rewards outweigh the risks.
Against

The first argument against uterine transplant births is safety. To host the transplanted uterus, the mother must take immunosuppressant drugs, which when taken over the long term could cause health damage and may even present a small risk to the fetus (Sherratt 1). Second, concerns have been raised over whether this is an expensive treatment option…