Ovary Transplantation

Ethical Theories & Dilemmas in Ovarian Transplantation In the age of innovations and technologies, it is not uncommon to be introduced with new procedures in the medicine and health care. Indeed, medical technologies are the foremost beneficiaries of new advancements in science and technology, primarily because these innovations aim to provide people with better services and options to increase their chances of survival or being treated for an illness or disease. Take, as an example, the process and medical procedure of ovarian transplantation.

Conducted initially in the early 20th century (1900), ovarian transplants do not only include transplantation of ovaries, but also of ovary tissues in order to cure illnesses not directly related to the reproductive system of the human body. As a relatively new procedure, ovarian transplantation involves serious implications not only in the health, but also in the psychological well-being of both donor and recipient (of the ovary). Thus, more than physical considerations, the issue of ovarian transplantation must be assessed based on its rightness or wrongness (ethical considerations).

This dilemma can be resolved using ethical theories, ideologies and philosophies that have been influential in developing humanity's ability to reason out and justify their social actions and behavior. This paper seeks to resolve the dilemma of determining whether ovarian transplantation is an ethical medical procedure or not; in doing so, corresponding ethical theories answering this problem in various perspectives are used. Thus, the theories of: (1) secular ethics via the utilitarian approach; (2) natural and moral laws; and (3) protestant ethics are used.

In addition, the author's own opinion is included, in an attempt to answer the ethical dilemma presented in this paper based on a subjective interpretation. Secular ethics based on a utilitarian perspective is grounded on two important concepts: anonymity and happiness/satisfaction of the majority. This is because secular ethics uses individualism and its anonymity from social influences as the gauge wherein the individual will make his/her decision regarding an important issue.

A secular ethicist takes into account personal values and beliefs of the individual, regardless of his/her religious beliefs. Furthermore, religion does not come into play in the process of decision-making; however, the choice of whether to let his/her religious beliefs influence the decision of the individual is also embedded in the concept of autonomy. Coupled with secular ethics, the utilitarian theory posits that a social act or behavior is considered acceptable and ethical so long as it benefits the majority of the people in the society.

Thus, if an individual chooses to undergo ovarian transplantation to help cure an individual from an illness or enable a woman to conceive and become pregnant, then this action and behavior is acceptable. Furthermore, its acceptability increases since the transplantation will benefit not only the patient, but his/her family, friends, and the society as well, as the individual is treated or enabled to contribute productively for the society (by becoming healthy or perpetuating the human race through pregnancy, respectively).

However, despite the secular ethicist agreement with the ovarian transplantation procedure, a Vatican official may express disagreement with this action. This is because ovarian transplantation breaks one of natural and moral laws' important premises -- that humanity should adhere and conform to the law of nature. Thus, any artificial procedures, such as ovarian transplantation, should not be conducted, for it violates the 'naturalness' of human living and survival.

To undergo medical operations and procedures only shows an individual's attempt to prolong his/her life or generate another human being in this world through "unnatural" or artificial means. Thus, for the Vatican official, religion plays a vital role in determining an individual's action and behavior; in effect, ovarian transplantation is considered taboo and a violation of God's moral law and humanity's natural law. Similarly, the protestant ethic theory holds a similar viewpoint as the Catholic Church: nature's law, the "survival of the fittest," should rule humanity.

Thus, human beings who are able to survive any illness.