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Ethical Criteria of Reproductive Medicine

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Andrology

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Abstract

Reproductive medicine is a dynamic branch of today’s high-performance medicine. It shares an interdisciplinary link with andrology. With regard to the treatment options of reproductive medicine, three of the relevant ethical criteria overlap with basic human rights, i.e., the right to individual self-determination including the right to reproduce, the right to health protection, and the welfare of the child. The health and welfare of children who are born with the help of reproductive medicine have to be given consideration before such reproduction takes place. In view of these three ethical criteria, controversial and hypothetical options also have to be considered, such as surrogacy or the theoretically imaginable usage of stem cells for reproductive purposes. On a research level, it is imperative that more information be gathered concerning dangers for human reproduction, e.g., from chemicals. Also, in light of ethical responsibility toward future generations, research should be conducted as to the impact of global warming on reproductive health.

Translated by André F. Wyss, Rue Philippe de Champagne 15, 1000 Brussels, Belgium.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Evangelisch-Theologische Fakultät, Bonn, Germany

    Hartmut Kreß

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  1. Hartmut Kreß
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Correspondence to Hartmut Kreß .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany

    Eberhard Nieschlag

  2. Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany

    Hermann M. Behre

  3. Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany

    Sabine Kliesch

  4. Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany

    Susan Nieschlag

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Kreß, H. (2023). Ethical Criteria of Reproductive Medicine. In: Nieschlag, E., Behre, H.M., Kliesch, S., Nieschlag, S. (eds) Andrology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-31574-9_50

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-31574-9_50

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-31573-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-31574-9

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