shimokawasachiko 目次
09 Agree Or Disagree: Should sperm donation businesses be banned?
精子提供ビジネスは禁止されるべきか？
観点：家族の形の多様性、近親相姦、デザイナーベイビー、レズビアンカップル、女性のキャリア、匿名のドナー
POINTS: Family diversity, Incest, Designer Babies, Lesbian couples, Women’s career, Anonymous donors
精子提供ビジネス普及の背景
日本では不妊治療の一環として、無精子症を患う婚姻関係にある夫婦にのみ、無償で第三者の精子が提供されています。しかし、出自を知る権利を日本でも法で認めるべきだという意見が高まる中、今まで匿名が決まりであった精子ドナーは、遺伝子を受け継いだ子の要望があれば将来的に情報を開示しなければいけない可能性が出てきています。これにより、精子提供者の数が減少し、婚姻関係にある夫婦さえも精子の提供を受けることが難しくなってきています。
また、同一性カップルは法的な婚姻は日本では認められていませんので、孤児を養子に迎えたくても出来ません。このような場合、女性カップルであれば、第三者から精子の提供を受け、どちらかと血の繫がった子供が欲しいと望むのは当然のことではないでしょうか？
Status of online sperm donation and sperm banks in Japan (English)
Meet the women having kids on their own (English)
賛成派：精子提供ビジネスは禁止されるべきだ（239 語）
AGREE or DISAGREE; Should sperm donation businesses be banned?
POINTS: Family diversity / Incest / Designer Babies
Introduction
Understandably, sperm donation businesses help meet the demand of people eager for their biological children. But there are always risks of unethical issues emerging from sperm trading.
当然のことながら、精子提供ビジネスは血の繫がった子供を持ちたいと願う人々の需要をみたす手助けとなっています。けれども、精子売買において非人道的な問題が発生するリスクは常にあると言っても良いでしょう。
Discussion 1
Some sperm donors may have frequently provided or keep offering their sperm to others. They, therefore, would not know how many half-siblings of their child exist in the world. In particular, the purchase of sperms through SNS, which has become prevalent in Japan today, is likely to enhance the risks of incest.
もしかしたら精子提供者の中には頻繁に精子を提供してきた人や、これからも提供し続ける人もいるかもしれません。ですから世界中に何人の異母兄弟がいるか分かりません。特に、SNSなどを通じての精子の購入は、これは日本でも今日広まっていますが、近親相姦のリスクを高める可能性があります。
Discussion 2
Many companies selling sperms disclose information about semen donors on their websites, such as the place of birth and the colour of eyes and hair. Such information may be helpful for parents who wish their children to grow up looking like them. On the other hand, some people may intentionally misuse the data to design their babies.
精子を販売している会社の多くは、出生地や目・髪の色といった精子提供者の情報を会社のHPで開示しています。この様な情報は、子供が育った時に自分達に似た容貌になってほしいと願っている人たちにとっては役立つかもしれません。他方で、赤ちゃんを自分たちの好みにするため、故意に情報を悪用する人達がいるかもしれません。
Discussion 3
Adopting orphans in Japan is not as common as in other developed countries, but certainly, it is another way of starting a happy family. Blood relation is not inevitable to build a great relationship and strong bond between parents and children, but love. This option is not available for same-gender couples in Japan, but they might be soon legally accepted as married couples and could consider this choice.
日本では養子縁組をすることは他の先進国ほど普及していません。しかし、幸せな家族を築く1つの方法であることに間違いありません。両親と子供の間に素晴らしい関係性や強固な絆をつくるのに、血の繫がりは必須でありません。必要なのは愛です。日本において、この選択は同性カップルにはありません。ですが、近い将来その婚姻関係が法的に認められ、この選択を考慮できるかもしれません。
Conclusion
No one could have every single thing that they wish to have in their lives. Babies are one of such. I also think sperm donation should not be in business because of its potential risks.
人生において欲しいと願ったものすべてを手に入れられる人はいません。赤ちゃんも、そのうちの1つです。また、その潜在するリスクから精子提供は事業に参入するべきではないと考えます。
賛成派：本文全文（音源つき）
Understandably, sperm donation businesses meet the demand of people eager for their biological children. But there are always risks of unethical issues emerging from sperm trading.
Some sperm donors may have frequently provided or keep offering their sperm to others. They, therefore, would not know how many half-siblings of their child exist in the world. In particular, the purchase of sperms through SNS, which has become prevalent in Japan today, is likely to enhance the risks of incest.
Many companies selling sperms disclose information about semen donors on their websites, such as the place of birth and the colour of eyes and hair. Such information may be helpful for parents who wish their children to grow up looking like them. On the other hand, some people may intentionally misuse the data to design their babies.
Adopting orphans in Japan is not as common as in other developed countries, but certainly, it is another way of starting a happy family. Blood relation is not inevitable to build a great relationship and strong bond between parents and children, but love. This option is not available for same-gender couples in Japan, but they might be soon legally accepted as married couples and could consider this choice.
No one could have every single thing that they wish to have in their lives. Babies are one of such. I also think sperm donation should not be in business because of its potential risks.
反対派： 精子提供ビジネスは禁止されるべきでない (243 語)
AGREE or DISAGREE; Should sperm donation businesses be banned?
POINTS: Lesbian couples / Women’s career / Anonymous donors
Introduction
Sperm donation businesses could provide an opportunity for having babies for some minority people, which otherwise they have to give up in the current health care and social systems.
精子提供ビジネスは、さもなければ現在の医療や社会制度において、少数弱者の人達が諦めざるを得ない赤ちゃんをもつという機会を与えてくれるだろう。
Discussion 1
In Japan, purchasing sperm from a business is almost the last resort for lesbian couples to start a family. Only legally married couples that are unable to conceive can be provided free sperms as a part of fertility treatments under the current medical system. Same-gender married couples can’t even adopt orphans.
日本では、業者から精子を購入することは、レズビアンカップルが家族を築く事の出来る最後の手段となっています。妊娠出来ない法的に婚姻関係にある夫婦だけが、現在の医療制度の元では不妊治療の一環として無償で精子の提供を受けられます。同性婚カップルは孤児を養子にすることさえ出来ません。
Discussion 2
In addition, sperms are in short supply even for legally married couples due to the declining number of donors. As more Japanese argue that children born with AID should be able to know their biological father if they wish, sperm donors may have to disclose their data in the future if required. But, many donors are reluctant and prefer to do it anonymously. Sperm donation businesses also seem to be in need to cover this shortage.
更に、精子提供者数減少により、婚姻関係にある不妊症の夫婦へ提供する精子でさえ不足しています。より多くの日本人が、AIDにより生まれた子供は望めば出自を知ることが出来るべきだと議論する中、精子提供者は将来、要望があれば情報を開示しなければならないかもしれません。しかし精子提供者の多くは情報開示に躊躇し、匿名で提供する事を望んでいます。精子提供ビジネスは、この精子不足を補うためにも必要とされているようです。
Discussion 3
Nowadays, many single women tend to postpone life events like marriage and giving birth and keep working until natural conception rates considerably drop. They want to choose their partner carefully whilst their biological clocks are ticking away. In this scenario, buying sperm may be a perfect solution to satisfy their desires.
最近では、たくさんの独身女性が結婚や出産といったライフイベントを後回しにし、自然妊娠率がかなり落ちる年齢まで働き続ける傾向にあります。子供を産めなくなる年齢が近づく一方で、女性たちは慎重にパートナーを選びたいと願っています。こう言った場合、精子の購入は彼女たちの欲望を満たす理想的な解決方法であるかもしれません。
Conclusion
Given that minority people should have equal opportunities to majority people, sperm donation businesses should not be banned to support the lifestyles of the minority and to make their dreams come true.
少数派の人たちも大多数の人たちと同じように公平に扱われるべきであることから、精子提供ビジネスは少数派達のライフスタイルをサポートし彼らの夢を叶えるためにも禁止されるべきではありません。
反対派：本文全文（音源つき）
Sperm donation businesses could provide an opportunity for having babies for some minority people, which otherwise they have to give up in the current health care and social systems.
In Japan, purchasing sperm from a business is almost the last resort for lesbian couples to start a family. Only legally married couples that are unable to conceive can be provided free sperms as a part of fertility treatments under the current medical system. Same-gender married couples can’t even adopt orphans.
In addition, sperms are in short supply even for legally married couples due to the declining number of donors. As more Japanese argue that children born with AID should be able to know their biological father if they wish, sperm donors may have to disclose their data in the future if required. But, many donors are reluctant and prefer to do it anonymously. Sperm donation businesses also seem to be in need to cover this shortage.
Nowadays, many single women tend to postpone life events like marriage and giving birth and keep working until natural conception rates considerably drop. They want to choose their partner carefully whilst their biological clocks are ticking away. In this scenario, buying sperm may be a perfect solution to satisfy their desires.
Given that minority people should have equal opportunities to majority people, sperm donation businesses should not be banned to support the lifestyles of the minority and to make their dreams come true.
まとめ
精子提供ビジネスは、子供が欲しいカップルにとっては必要な存在であるようです。その背景には、マイノリティーである同性婚カップルなどが法的に婚姻関係にあると認められていないことや、孤児を家族に迎えるという事が日本で広く浸透していないことが挙げられます。
この問題はどちらが正しいとは言えないでしょう。上述の２点について、日本と外国との違いを調べ、精子提供ビジネスが必要なのかどうか考える始点としても良いかもしれません。
こちらの記事もおすすめです。英検1級ライティング Agree Or Disagree: オリンピックの外交的ボイコットは行なわれるべきか。
