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Below: US philosopher Michael Sandel and medical researcher William Haseltine debate ethical issues in genetic engineering, in a conversation with the Aspen Institute's Elliot Gerson. (from ForaTV)
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Below: a video from the Genetics and IVF institute (USA) explaining the microsort technique of gender selection. Below: a promotional / informative video from the Center for Human Reproduction (USA) contends that the two chief reasons given by families pursuing gender selection are the prevention of known genetic anomalies and to achieve "family balancing". Below: one of the arguments given by opponents of gender selection is that it will lead to full-fledged "designer babies", selected for such trivialities as hair colour. This 2006 BBC documentary contains comment from Professor Lee Silver, of USA's Princeton University. |
 Web links and documents |
In 1999, The Medical Journal of Australia published an article by Julian Savulescu, the Director of the Ethics Unit, Murdoch Institute, and the Director of the Ethics Program, Centre for the Study of Health and Society, University of Melbourne, titled Sex selection: the case for. Savulescu gives a detailed account of the various procedures available to achieve sex selection, the then legal situation with regard to gender selection in Australia and then considers a number of arguments opposing gender selection and responds to these. The full text of this article can be found at http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/171_7_041099/savulescu/savulescu.html
In 2004 National Health and Medical Research Council released its Ethical guidelines on the use of assisted reproductive technology in clinical practice and research. Revised guidelines were issued in 2007. The guidelines state, admission to life should not be conditional upon a child being a particular sex. The sex selection guidelines discussion begins on page 53.
The full text of the guidelines can be found at http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/file/publications/synopses/e78.pdf
In June 2007 The Victorian Law Reform Commission released its final report on Assisted Reproductive Technology and Adoption. Chapter seven of the report gives the Commissions findings on sex selection. The Commission concluded, The current legislative ban on sex selection for non-medical reasons should remain in place. The Commissions full deliberations can be found at http://www.lawreform.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/justlib/Law+Reform/resources/f/6/f65fc200404a0d309836fbf5f2791d4a/chapter+7+sex+selection.pdf
On March 13, 2010, The Daily Telegraph published a background analysis titled, Parents push for unnatural selection by Grant McArthur and Elissa Doherty. The article considers the fact that the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) will soon be reviewing the ethical guidelines that currently prohibit the use of IVF technology to allow parents to select the gender of their children. The article primarily presents the views of those who support IVF being used for gender selection. The full text of this article can be found at http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/parents-push-for-unnatural-selection/story-e6freuy9-1225840201633
On March 13, 2010, ABC News published a background piece titled, Boy or girl? Push for parents to choose. The item explains that the National Health and Medical Research Councils prohibition on the use of IVF procedures for sex selection finishes at the end of 2010 and suggests that the review of the guidelines scheduled to follow could result in a relaxation of the current ban. The item gives the views of a number of reproductive technology experts who favour a relaxation. The full text of this report can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/13/2844925.htm
In April 2010, Life, Marriage and Family (a regular publication produced by the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, outlining social issues upon which the Catholic Church has a particular view) published an article titled, Gender-selection controversy a pre-emptive strike. The opinion piece considers some of the arguments supporting gender selection and then argues against them using both medical and ethical arguments, some, but not all of which have a Catholic emphasis. The piece was written by Fr Kevin McGovern, the Director of the Caroline Chisholm Centre for Health Ethics. The full text of this piece can be found at http://www.cam.org.au/life-marriage-and-family/gender-selection-controversy-a-pre-emptive-strike.html
On July 9, 2010, The Herald Sun published a news report titled, Parties dodge calls for change to ban on baby sex selection. The report detailed the plight of a Melbourne woman who planned to go to Thailand so that she could use IVF to select the gender of her child. It also details the current positions of the federal Government and the Opposition on the issue. The full text of this article can be found at http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/parties-dodge-calls-for-change-to-ban-on-baby-sex-selection/story-e6frf7jo-1225889992806
On October 9, 2010, The Courier Mail published a background analysis titled, Should you choose babys sex? by Sharon Labi. The piece gives the views of parents seeking to select the gender of their next child as well as those of a number of ethicists, obstetricians, IVF specialists and geneticists. The full text of this article can be found at http://www.couriermail.com.au/lifestyle/body-soul/should-you-choose-babys-sex/story-e6frer86-1225936067513
The Center for Genetics and Society is a nonprofit information and public affairs organization working to encourage responsible uses and effective societal governance of the new human genetic and reproductive technologies.
The Centre has reproduced on its Internet site the text of an ABC news report of December 22, 2010, titled, Lets talk about sex: boys or girls? The report details the findings of Melbourne University research (headed by Dr Rebecca Kippen) on Australian attitudes to gender selection. The report indicates that a substantial majority of Australians are opposed to such a development. The full text of this report can be found at http://www.geneticsandsociety.org/article.php?id=5524
On January 8, 2011, The Courier Mail published a news report by Phil Teese outlining the availability of IVF for gender selection in Thailand. The full text of the article can be found at http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/parents-choose-custom-babies/story-fn6ck45n-1225984170070
On January 10, 2011, The Punch published an opinion piece by Sam Cleveland titled, Playing with nature - the ethics of sex selection. Rather than adopting a particular view on the issue, Mr Cleveland presents some of the ethical concerns it raises. The full text of this comment can be found at http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/playing-with-nature-the-ethics-of-sex-selection/
On January 12, 2011, The Adelaide Advertiser published a background piece by Callie Watson titled, Fertile grounds for debate. The piece gives an overview of IFV development since its inception and then looks at the debate surrounding its use to help parents select the gender of their child. The full text of this report can be found at http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/fertile-grounds-for-debate/story-fn6bqphm-1225985820918