Twilight Bioethics : ectogestation

Twilight bioethics series: Ectogestation

No longer found only in the realm of science fiction, artificial womb/artificial placenta systems (ectogestation) are currently being developed and tested in animal models. It is likely that human trials of partial ectogestation will take place within the next decade. The appearance of this technology on the horizon has raised ethical and social concerns. Many of these concerns are around areas of life which are already a source of disagreement, including: reproductive choices, the moral status of the fetus and newborn infant, care for extremely preterm infants and conceptions of personhood and parenthood. In the future, such technology may change the way that life starts for some people. This possibility needs careful consideration. Additionally, thinking about how this might work may also help us to better understand some aspects of reproduction and the beginnings of life that we face today.

Panel Members

Dr Elizabeth Chloe Romanis

Associate Professor in Biolaw

Director of Gender and Law at Durham

Durham Law School

UK

Dr Virginie Rozée

Sociologist, Senior Researcher

Institut national d'etudes démographiques (INED)

France

Dr Michelle Munyikwa

Anthropologist

Resident Physician: Internal Medicine–Pediatrics

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

USA

Dr Giulia Res

Assistant Professor in Neonatology

Hôpital Antoine-Béclère

Université Paris Saclay

France

Moderator:

Dr Jack Turley

Clinical Fellow in Neonatology

MA Candidate (Bioethics)

Monash University, Australia

CIUP, France

The Twilight Bioethics Series

This series consists of three interdisciplinary events exploring how scientific and medical technologies reshape the boundaries between life and death, body and personhood—themes often anticipated in science fiction. The series delves into the "ethics of life," specifically examining emerging or evolving processes that introduce new ways to sustain life, novel reproductive possibilities, and new materials and methods for experimentation.

The development of such biotechnologies calls for ethical reflection from diverse perspectives. This series aims to foster discussions among scholars, scientists, and practitioners from various fields to consider the meaning and ethical impacts of these technologies on human and animal life.

The discussions will focus on three technologies at different stages of research and implementation: human milk banks, in vitro gametogenesis, and artificial wombs (ectogenesis). These innovations, which raise unique ethical, social, and public concerns, have the potential to radically transform aspects of reproduction and even our understanding of life itself.

Presentations will be in English, and audience questions are welcome in English or French.

 Scientific committee:

Benjamin Hegarty, Paris IAS / CIUP

Anne Le Goff, Paris IAS / CIUP

Jack Turley, CIUP

Bertrand Cosson, CIUP / University of Paris Cité