Value sensitive design and the artificial placenta.

Romanis, Elizabeth Chloe; Segers, Seppe; de Jong, Ben

Abstract

Artificial placenta technologies (also termed 'artificial wombs') for use in place of conventional neonatal intensive care are increasingly closer to first-in-human use. There is growing ethical interest in partial ectogestation (the use of an artificial placenta to continue gestation of an underdeveloped human entity extra uterum), however, there has been little reflection on the ethical issues in the design of the technology. While some have noted the importance of such reflection, and others have noted that a 'value sensitive design' approach should be preferred, they have not elaborated on what this means. In this article, we consider what a value sensitive design approach to artificial placenta design might encompass. We believe that applying this framework to the topic at hand raises theoretical and substantive ethical questions that merit further elucidation. Highlighting that there is a careful need to separate preferences from values and that our intervention should be considered only a starting point, we explore some of the values that could be used to make ethical design choices about the artificial placenta: efficacy, compassion and accessibility. [Abstract copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.]

Citation

Romanis, E. C., Segers, S., & de Jong, B. (online). Value sensitive design and the artificial placenta. Journal of Medical Ethics, https://doi.org/10.1136/jme-2024-110066

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 17, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Sep 18, 2024
• Deposit Date: Aug 17, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 2, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Medical Ethics
• Print ISSN: 0306-6800
• Electronic ISSN: 1473-4257
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/jme-2024-110066
• Keywords: Embryos and Fetuses, Perinatal morbidity, Perinatal mortality, Philosophy- Medical, Ethics- Medical
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2761159
• Publisher URL: https://jme.bmj.com/