Potential For Controversy
There would be implications for the ongoing controversy regarding abortion, for example by potentially allowing a woman to terminate a pregnancy very prematurely without ending the life of the fetus. Although the technology does not currently exist to raise an embryo from conception to full development outside of a human body, the possibility of such technology raises questions with respect to cloning as well. The elimination of the need for a living uterus would make cloning easier to carry out and harder for legal authorities to track. At the same time, the capacity to raise an unwanted fetus apart from the mother would allow the option of fetus adoption, but might raise concerns with respect to children born with no connection to a biological parent. Some pro-life groups argue that this would allow a father to have a choice in whether to carry a pregnancy to term.
In addition, some are concerned with the viability of men no longer needing women to procreate, alluding to a paradoxical Valerie Solanas type society without females. 'There are going to be real problems.' said an organiser. 'Some feminists even say artificial wombs mean men could eliminate women from the planet and still perpetuate our species. That's a bit alarmist. Nevertheless, this subject clearly raises strong feelings.'
Read more about this topic: Artificial Uterus
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