William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice
Abstract
This article will explore key regulatory and ethical challenges presented by reproductive tissue transplants (RTTs) as they are currently developing, recognizing that additional issues may reveal themselves as the technologies progress. Part I of this article will begin with a discussion of the current status of the technology, including the results and status of animal and human experiments for all three types of transplants. Part II will explore the demand for RTTs—who might consider such a transplant and why RTTS might be considered by some patients as more favorable than other reproductive options. Part III will explore the different regulatory channels which might apply to RTT, including organ transplant ART and tissue regulations, mainly at the federal level. Having analyzed which rules are likely to apply to RTT, Part IV will discuss five key regulatory and ethical issues raised by RTT: research requirements for fair and safe research of RTT, informed consent of donors and recipients if RTTs become clinically available, allocation of reproductive organs, payment for potential donors, parental rights of donors, and disposition of cryopreserved organs.