Sex Selection: An Ethical Issue or An Absolute Right? A Review Article

Background: This review article investigates the moral andethical aspects of sex selection; with an overview of negativeand positive ideas holding around this global issue.Materials and Methods: A series of searches was conducted ofMedline databases published in English between ۱۹۹۶ and ۲۰۱۸.Results: While abortion or infanticide has long been used as means of sex selection, a new technology preimplantation geneticdiagnosis (PGD) has become a highly efficient, and arguablyless controversial, way of ensuring the birth of a childof a particular sex. Sex-selection via genetic testing has hadmixed reactions from the public, and has resulted in a great dealof criticism from people who argue that the practice promotesgender discrimination and could lead to gender imbalance inthe population. The central argument put forward is that nonmedicalsex selection is a practice which promotes socially restrictiveconceptions of sex, gender and family. Those against ithave argued that sex selection is akin to ‘‘playing God’’, by interferingwith the natural process of reproduction. Non-medicalsex selection is often seen as problematic in countries that havea son preference but not in Western countries which appear touse sex selection for “gender-balancing”. Advocates of sex selectionuse a rights-based liberal approach as the framework forevaluating reproductive technologies in general and PGD forsex selection in particular. Under this framework, reproductivechoice and parental autonomy are basic freedoms. Interferencewith individuals’ autonomous reproductive and parental choicesis illegitimate, unless their actions can be shown to clearlyand seriously harm others.Conclusion: Sex selection is still an advocated practice amongpeople of some countries because of special ideas related totheir culture. People also use sex selection for family balancing.However this practice causes some global or local issuesin today’s societies, sex selection is still a controversial issue.

کلیدواژه ها:

Ethical Issues ، Morality ، Sex Selection ، Review Article ، Genetic Testing