Introduction to Biotechnology 3rd Edition by William Thieman ,Michael Palladino

Exercise 11

Michelle, a 21-year-old doctoral candidate in sciences at one of the best universities in the United States, is an attractive woman. To earn a little extra cash, she responds to an ad in local newspaper from a fertility clinic seeking women eager to donate eggs for infertile couples seeking to have children. Michelle will be paid for these eggs, about $5,000 each. Over a period of several years she donates eggs for infertile couples and eggs for somatic-cell nuclear transfer procedures used to create embryos for deriving embryonic stem cells.During this time, Michelle earns around $45,000 for her donated eggs. She will never know if any her eggs actually led to a successful pregnancy. Is this ethically OK with you Is it acceptable to pay someone for their eggs What information do you think potential egg donors should be told about before or after making a donation