Women's Eggs...For Sale?

NEWS BRIEFS Jun-19-2009

By Catholic News Service

U.S.

State plan to pay for eggs used in research called 'grossly unethical'

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (CNS) -- An official of the New York State Catholic Conference has criticized as "grossly unethical, dangerous and exploitative" a plan that allows state funds to be paid to women who donate their eggs for research purposes. The move was approved June 11 by the Empire State Stem Cell Board, which oversees $600 million in New York taxpayer funds earmarked for stem-cell research. Kathleen Gallagher, director of pro-life activities for the conference, which represents the state's bishops in public-policy matters, said the plan "treats women's body parts as commodities." New York is the only state in the nation thus far to decide to pay women for their eggs, she added. The stem-cell board approved payments of up to $10,000 for each retrieval, which Gallagher said surely will be tempting for low-income women who are struggling to support themselves and their families. Yet she noted that the retrieval process can be painful and has been linked to health risks and loss of fertility. "In this economy people are desperate," she said. "Vulnerable women should not be coerced into risking their health and their lives for speculative science with speculative benefits."