The Practice of Assisted Human Reproduction Technologies (Arts) in Nigeria: The Unanswered Legal and Ethical Questions

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is practiced today in Nigeria through gamete donations and In-Vitro Fertilization as a result of developments in the field of medicine to combat infertility. While the development is welcomed, certain issues associated with its practice need to be examined from legal and ethical perspective. Those who desire child without bearing pregnancy and barren couples do turn to ARTs methods for help without due regards of legal, ethical and moral considerations of the methods. Thus, there are questions over the fate of fertilized human eggs that are not implanted, sperm frozen or stored and the fate of the human embryos created if the couples who created them die, divorce, become incapacitated or no longer want to have children. In this regard, the right of humans to tamper with the natural processes of childbearing has been questioned as well. The quest to find legal answers to these issues and ensure appropriate regulation of ARTs to embrace them, enhance practice and guard against abuse is therefore imperative. This article, employing doctrinal approach, aims at explore and highlight Nigerian practice of ARTS and fundamental legal and ethical issues surrounding it as technology transforms the means of human reproduction. The article suggests robust and balanced legislations for befitting regulatory framework as the way forward in Nigeria.

Keywords: Procreation, Technology, Assisted-Reproduction, Law, Ethics.