Artificial Womb Technology and Abortion

An Argument-Based Systematic Review

Authors

  • Dorothea Chatzikonstantinou URPP Human Reproduction Reloaded | H2R, University of Zurich
  • Alice Cavolo Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, KU Leuven

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55613/jeet.v35i1.181

Keywords:

abortion, artificial wombs, ectogenesis, artificial placenta, termination of pregnancy, fetal transfer, ethics

Abstract

.

References

Accoe, D., & Pennings, G. (2024). Navigating conflicts of reproductive rights: Unbundling parenthood and balancing competing interests. Bioethics, 38(5), 425–430. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.13282 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.13282

Adkins, V. (2021). Impact of ectogenesis on the medicalisation of pregnancy and childbirth. Journal of Medical Ethics, 47(4), 239–243. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2019-106004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2019-106004

Alghrani, A. (2007). The Legal and Ethical Ramifications of Ectogenesis. Asian Journal of WTO & International Health Law & Policy, 2(1), 189–211.

Anderson, M. L. (2023). Anti-abortionist Action Theory and the Asymmetry between Spontaneous and Induced Abortions. The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy: A Forum for Bioethics and Philosophy of Medicine, 48(3), 209–224. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmp/jhad011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jmp/jhad011

Biggs, M. A., Gould, H., & Foster, D. G. (2013). Understanding why women seek abortions in the US. BMC Women’s Health, 13(1), 29. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6874-13-29 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6874-13-29

Blackshaw, B. P., & Rodger, D. (2019). Ectogenesis and the case against the right to the death of the foetus. Bioethics, 33(1), 76–81. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12529 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12529

Brown, B. P., & Watson, K. (2023). No Substitute: The False Promise of Artificial Womb Technology as an Alternative to Abortion. The American Journal of Bioethics, 23(5), 87–89. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2023.2191032 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2023.2191032

Browne, T. K., Kendal, E., & Sudenkaarne, T. (2023). Feminist Concerns About Artificial Womb Technology. The American Journal of Bioethics, 23(5), 97–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2023.2191036 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2023.2191036

Bryner, B., Gray, B., Perkins, E., Davis, R., Hoffman, H., Barks, J., Owens, G., Bocks, M., Rojas-Peña, A., Hirschl, R., Bartlett, R., & Mychaliska, G. (2015). An extracorporeal artificial placenta supports extremely premature lambs for 1week. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 50(1), 44–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2014.10.028 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2014.10.028

Cannold, L. (1995). Women, Ectogenesis and Ethical Theory. Journal of Applied Philosophy, 12(1), 55–64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5930.1995.tb00119.x

Cavaliere, G. (2020). Gestation, equality and freedom: Ectogenesis as a political perspective. Journal of Medical Ethics, 46(2), 76–82. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2019-105691 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2019-105691

Cavolo, A., De Boer, A., De Proost, L., Verweij, E. J., & Gastmans, C. (2024). Navigating the Ethical Landscape of the Artificial Placenta: A Systematic Review. Prenatal Diagnosis, pd.6711. https://doi.org/10.1002/pd.6711 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3309789/v2

Chae, S., Desai, S., Crowell, M., & Sedgh, G. (2017). Reasons why women have induced abortions: A synthesis of findings from 14 countries. Contraception, 96(4), 233–241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2017.06.014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2017.06.014

Cohen, I. G. (2017a). Artificial Wombs and Abortion Rights. Hastings Center Report, 47(4). https://doi.org/10.1002/hast.730 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hast.730

Cohen, I. G. (2017b). Artificial wombs are coming. They could completely change the debate over abortion. https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2017/8/23/16186468/artificial-wombs-radically-transform-abortion-debate

Cohen, I. G. (2020). Commentary on ‘Gestation, Equality and Freedom: Ectogenesis as a Political Perspective.’ Journal of Medical Ethics, 46(2), 87–88. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2019-105958 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2019-105958

Davin, J., & Kaczor, C. (2005). Would artificial wombs produce more harm than good? The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, 5(4), 657; author reply 658-657; author reply 658.

De Proost, L., Verweij, E. (Joanne), Geurtzen, R., Zuijdwegt, G., Verhagen, E., & Ismaili M’hamdi, H. (2023). Viability, abortion and extreme prematurity: A critique. Clinical Ethics, 18(4), 385–392. https://doi.org/10.1177/14777509231182000 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/14777509231182000

Dierckx De Casterlé, B., De Vliegher, K., Gastmans, C., & Mertens, E. (2021). Complex Qualitative Data Analysis: Lessons Learned From the Experiences With the Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven. Qualitative Health Research, 31(6), 1083–1093. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732320966981 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732320966981

Dierckx de Casterlé, B., Gastmans, C., Bryon, E., & Denier, Y. (2012). QUAGOL: A guide for qualitative data analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 49(3), 360–371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2011.09.012 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2011.09.012

Fuentes, L., Kavanaugh, M. L., Frohwirth, L. F., Jerman, J., & Blades, N. (2023). “Adoption is just not for me”: How abortion patients in Michigan and New Mexico factor adoption into their pregnancy outcome decisions. Contraception: X, 5, 100090. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conx.2023.100090 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conx.2023.100090

Goldstein, M. A. (1978). Choice rights and abortion: The begetting choice right and state obstacles to choice in light of artificial womb technology. Southern California Law Review, 51(5), 877–921.

Greenhalgh, T., & Peacock, R. (2005). Effectiveness and efficiency of search methods in systematic reviews of complex evidence: Audit of primary sources. BMJ, 331(7524), 1064–1065. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38636.593461.68 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38636.593461.68

Halliday, S., Romanis, E. C., de Proost, L., & Verweij, E. J. (2023). The (mis)use of fetal viability as the determinant of non-criminal abortion in the Netherlands and England and Wales. Medical Law Review, 31(4), 538–563. https://doi.org/10.1093/medlaw/fwad015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/medlaw/fwad015

Haslanger, S. (2022). The Adoption “Alternative.” Adoption & Culture, 10(2), 278–283. https://doi.org/10.1353/ado.2022.0030 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/ado.2022.0030

Hendricks, P. (2018). There is no right to the death of the fetus. Bioethics, 32(6), 395–397. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12455 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12455

Hine, K. (2024). Partial ectogestation and the right to choose the method by which one ends one’s pregnancy. Journal of Social Philosophy, 55(1), 143–159. https://doi.org/10.1111/josp.12537 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/josp.12537

Hopkins, P. D. (2008). Can Technology Fix the Abortion Problem? Ectogenesis and the Real Issues of Abortion. International Journal of Applied Philosophy, 22(2), 311–326. https://doi.org/10.5840/ijap200822222 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5840/ijap200822222

Horn, C. (2020a). Ectogenesis is for Feminists: Reclaiming Artificial Wombs from Antiabortion Discourse. Catalyst: Feminism, The-ory, Technoscience, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.28968/cftt.v6i1.33065 DOI: https://doi.org/10.28968/cftt.v6i1.33065

Horn, C. (2020b). Gender, gestation and ectogenesis: Self-determination for pregnant people ahead of artificial wombs. Journal of Medical Ethics, 46(11), 787–788. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2020-106156 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2020-106156

Horn, C. (2021). Abortion Rights after Artificial Wombs: Why Decriminalisation is Needed Ahead of Ectogenesis. Medical Law Review, 29(1), 80–105. https://doi.org/10.1093/medlaw/fwaa042 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/medlaw/fwaa042

Howes, J., & Gastmans, C. (2021). Electronic tracking devices in dementia care: A systematic review of argument-based ethics literature. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 95, 104419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2021.104419 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2021.104419

Humber, J. M. (1977). Abortion, Fetal Research, and the Law. Social Theory and Practice, 4(2), 127–147. https://doi.org/10.5840/soctheorpract19774213 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5840/soctheorpract19774213

Idzik, S. H.-I. (2022). “Less Abortion, More Adoption”: A Brief Discursive History of Adoption as Solution. Adoption & Culture, 10(2), 284–290. https://doi.org/10.1353/ado.2022.0031 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/ado.2022.0031

Jackson, E. (2008). Degendering Reproduction? Medical Law Review, 16(3), 346–368. https://doi.org/10.1093/medlaw/fwn016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/medlaw/fwn016

James, D. N. (1987). Ectogenesis: A reply to Singer and Wells. Bioethics, 1(1), 80–99. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8519.1987.tb00006.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8519.1987.tb00006.x

Kaczor, C. (2005). Could Artificial Wombs End the Abortion Debate? The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, 5(2), 283–301. https://doi.org/10.5840/ncbq20055248 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5840/ncbq20055248

Kaczor, C. (2018). Ectogenesis and a right to the death of the prenatal human being: A reply to Räsänen. Bioethics, 32(9), 634–638. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12512 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12512

Kendal, E. (2020). Pregnant people, inseminators and tissues of human origin: How ectogenesis challenges the concept of abortion. Monash Bioethics Review, 38(2), 197–204. https://doi.org/10.1007/S40592-020-00122-0/METRICS DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40592-020-00122-0

Kendal, E. (2022). Form, Function, Perception, and Reception: Visual Bioethics and the Artificial Womb. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, 95(3), 371–377.

Kennedy, S., & Nelson, L. (2023). A Different Take on the Law and Ethics of AWT. The American Journal of Bioethics, 23(5), 92–94. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2023.2191044 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2023.2191044

Kirkman, M., Rowe, H., Hardiman, A., Mallett, S., & Rosenthal, D. (2009). Reasons women give for abortion: A review of the literature. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 12(6), 365–378. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-009-0084-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-009-0084-3

Kozlov, M. (2023). Human trials of artificial wombs could start soon. Here’s what you need to know. Nature, 621(7979), 458–460. https://doi.org/10.1038/D41586-023-02901-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-02901-1

Langford, S. (2008). An end to abortion? A feminist critique of the ‘ectogenetic solution’ to abortion. Women’s Studies International Forum, 31(4), 263–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2008.05.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2008.05.005

Liberati, A., Altman, D. G., Tetzlaff, J., Mulrow, C., Gøtzsche, P. C., Ioannidis, J. P. A., Clarke, M., Devereaux, P. J., Kleijnen, J., & Moher, D. (2009). The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: Explanation and elaboration. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 62(10), e1–e34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2009.06.006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2009.06.006

Lupton, M. L. (1997). Artificial wombs: Medical miracle, legal nightmare. Medicine and Law, 16(3), 621–633.

Mathison, E., & Davis, J. (2017). Is There a Right to the Death of the Foetus? Bioethics, 31(4), 313–320. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12331 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12331

McCullough, L., Coverdale, J., & Chervenak, F. (2007). Constructing a Systematic Review for Argument-Based Clinical Ethics Literature: The Example of Concealed Medications. Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, 32(1), 65–76. https://doi.org/10.1080/03605310601152206 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03605310601152206

Mertz, M. (2019). How to tackle the conundrum of quality appraisal in systematic reviews of normative literature/information? Analysing the problems of three possible strategies (translation of a German paper). BMC Medical Ethics, 20(1), 81–81. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-019-0423-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-019-0423-5

Muhsin, S. M., Chin, A. H. B., & Padela, A. I. (2023). An Ethico-Legal Analysis of Artificial Womb Technology and Extracorporeal Gestation Based on Islamic Legal Maxims. The New Bioethics, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/20502877.2023.2269638 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/20502877.2023.2269638

Murphy, J. S. (1989). Is Pregnancy Necessary? Feminist Concerns About Ectogenesis. Hypatia, 4(3), 66–84. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1527-2001.1989.tb00592.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1527-2001.1989.tb00592.x

Myrhaug, H. T., Brurberg, K. G., Hov, L., & Markestad, T. (2019). Survival and Impairment of Extremely Premature Infants: A Meta-analysis. Pediatrics, 143(2). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-0933 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-0933

Overall, C. (2015). Rethinking Abortion, Ectogenesis, and Fetal Death. Journal of Social Philosophy, 46(1), 126–140. https://doi.org/10.1111/josp.12090 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/josp.12090

Partridge, E. A., Davey, M. G., Hornick, M. A., & Flake, A. W. (2017). An EXTrauterine environment for neonatal development: EXTENDING fetal physiology beyond the womb. Seminars in Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, 22(6), 404–409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.siny.2017.04.006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.siny.2017.04.006

Partridge, E. A., Davey, M. G., Hornick, M. A., McGovern, P. E., Mejaddam, A. Y., Vrecenak, J. D., Mesas-Burgos, C., Olive, A., Caskey, R. C., Weiland, T. R., Han, J., Schupper, A. J., Connelly, J. T., Dysart, K. C., Rychik, J., Hedrick, H. L., Peranteau, W. H., & Flake, A. W. (2017). An extra-uterine system to physiologically support the extreme premature lamb. Nature Communica-tions, 8(1), 15112–15112. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15112 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15112

Pruski, M., & Playford, R. C. (2022). Artificial Wombs, Thomson and Abortion – What Might Change? Diametros, 19(73), 35–53. https://doi.org/10.33392/diam.1794 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33392/diam.1794

Räsänen, J. (2017). Ectogenesis, abortion and a right to the death of the fetus. Bioethics, 31(9), 697–702. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12404 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12404

Räsänen, J. (2021). Liberal Utilitarianism—Yes, But for Whom? Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, 30(2), 368–375. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0963180120000894 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0963180120000894

Räsänen, J. (2023). Regulating abortion after ectogestation. Journal of Medical Ethics, 49(6), 419–422. https://doi.org/10.1136/jme-2022-108174 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/jme-2022-108174

Roberts, S. C., Biggs, M. A., Chibber, K. S., Gould, H., Rocca, C. H., & Foster, D. G. (2014). Risk of violence from the man involved in the pregnancy after receiving or being denied an abortion. BMC Medicine, 12(1), 144–144. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-014-0144-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-014-0144-z

Rodger, D. (2021). Why Ectogestation Is Unlikely to Transform the Abortion Debate: A Discussion of ‘Ectogestation and the Problem of Abortion.’ Philosophy & Technology, 34(4), 1929–1935. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13347-020-00436-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13347-020-00436-1

Roesner, N. (2023). Beyond a Medicalized View of Reproduction: Recentering Pregnant People in the Ethics of Ectogenesis. The American Journal of Bioethics, 23(5), 102–104. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2023.2191049 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2023.2191049

Romanis, E. C. (2019). Challenging the ‘Born Alive’ Threshold: Fetal Surgery, Artificial Wombs, and the English Approach to Legal Personhood. Medical Law Review. https://doi.org/10.1093/medlaw/fwz014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/medlaw/fwz014

Romanis, E. C. (2020). Is ‘viability’ viable? Abortion, conceptual confusion and the law in England and Wales and the United States. Journal of Law and the Biosciences, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/jlb/lsaa059 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jlb/lsaa059

Romanis, E. C. (2021). Abortion & ‘artificial wombs’: Would ‘artificial womb’ technology legally empower non-gestating genetic progenitors to participate in decisions about how to terminate pregnancy in England and Wales? Journal of Law and the Bi-osciences, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/jlb/lsab011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jlb/lsab011

Romanis, E. C., & Horn, C. (2020). Artificial Wombs and the Ectogenesis Conversation: A Misplaced Focus? Technology, Abortion, and Reproductive Freedom. IJFAB: International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics, 13(2), 174–194. https://doi.org/10.3138/ijfab.13.2.18 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3138/ijfab.13.2.18

Simkulet, W. (2020). Abortion and Ectogenesis: Moral Compromise. Journal of Medical Ethics, 46(2), 93–98. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2019-105676 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2019-105676

Simkulet, W. (2023). Ectogenesis and the Violinist. Diametros, 19(75), 37–47. https://doi.org/10.33392/diam.1873 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33392/diam.1873

Simonstein, F. (2006). Artificial reproduction technologies (RTs) – all the way to the artificial womb? Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 9(3), 359–365. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-006-0005-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-006-0005-4

Singh, P. (2022). Ectogenesis and the Right to Life: Discussion Note on Pruski and Playford’s, “Artificial Wombs, Thomson and Abortion—What Might Change?” Diametros, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.33392/diam.1850 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33392/diam.1850

Stratman, C. M. (2020). Ectogestation and the Problem of Abortion. Philosophy & Technology, 34(4), 683–700. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13347-020-00427-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13347-020-00427-2

Stratman, C. M. (2021). Replies to Kaczor and Rodger. Philosophy & Technology, 34(4), 1941–1944. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13347-020-00439-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13347-020-00439-y

Stratman, C. M. (2023). Ectogestation and the Good Samaritan Argument. Journal of Law and the Biosciences, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/jlb/lsad012 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jlb/lsad012

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. (n.d.). Recreating the Womb: Q&A with the researchers [Video]. Youtube. https://www.Youtube.Com/Watch?v=2xpKmyCE97A.

Vandemeulebroucke, T., Dierckx De Casterlé, B., & Gastmans, C. (2018). The use of care robots in aged care: A systematic review of argument-based ethics literature. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 74, 15–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2017.08.014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2017.08.014

Warren, M. A. (1989). The Moral Significance of Birth. Hypatia, 4(3), 46–65. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1527-2001.1989.tb00591.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1527-2001.1989.tb00591.x

Wells, D. (1987). Ectogenesis, Justice and Utility: A Reply to James. Bioethics, 1(4), 372–379. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8519.1987.tb00020.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8519.1987.tb00020.x

Wilkinson, D. J., Villanueva‐Uy, M. E., Hayden, D., & McTavish, J. (2019). Decision‐making around resuscitation of extremely preterm infants in the Philippines: A consensus guideline. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 55(9), 1023–1028. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.14552 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.14552

Yaakob, H. (2022). Setting the Boundaries of Individual Reproductive Autonomy: The Case of Artificial Womb. UUM Journal of Legal Studies, 13. https://doi.org/10.32890/uumjls2022.13.2.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32890/uumjls2022.13.2.1

Downloads

Published

2025-05-28

Issue

Section

Literature Review

How to Cite

Artificial Womb Technology and Abortion: An Argument-Based Systematic Review. (2025). Journal of Ethics and Emerging Technologies, 35(1), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.55613/jeet.v35i1.181

Similar Articles

1-10 of 61

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.