In what is the first case of its kind, a man selling human egg cells over the internet has been uncovered by police. The man has been making money by connecting women in their twenties who wanted to sell their ova to infertile couples. There have been rumors about an ova trade, but now its existence has been confirmed.
A law on life ethics and safety prohibits the sale of eggs and sperm for money, but the issue is directly related to one of human dignity, more so than being a legal matter. Eggs and sperm are the most basic human cells in the process of the birth of life. The development of medicine has led unveiled the mystery bit by bit but much of it remains unknown. Even without invoking the ethical issues from a religious perspective, it carelessly handling the seeds of human existence is arrogant and dangerous.
Most purchases of ova are by infertile couples wanting to have children. The seeds of life are being bought and sold to give life. In other words, life is being commercialized for the sake of life, and it would not be too much to say that nothing could be more contradictory and inhumane. The sale of eggs must not be tolerated, if also because it means women are being commercialized and made into tools. Furthermore, artificially encouraging the production of ova involves considerable danger. The experts say that there are many side effects of the hormone injections that induce ovulation and warn that in serious cases it can cause ovarian cancer and lead to death. It can also cause infertility. The sale of eggs, therefore, involves those dangers while dealing in female reproductive capabilities like water.
The selling of human eggs is the exchange of the seeds of life for money and must be uprooted no matter what. If the country is to stop transactions disguised as donations then there has to be strict standards and procedures on becoming an egg donor. It's a matter of defending the dignity of everyone.
The Hankyoreh, 7 November 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] Sale of Human Eggs Must Not Be Tolerated |
