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risks should be evaluated at each step of technology: prohibition of organ sale is in conformity with
Starting with bioinks creation and ending with the basic law of moral relations between people.
organ transplantation. The particular and highly The trend toward the commercialization of organ
important feature of the artificial ovary technology transplantation has its own objective reasons.
is that the risks concern not only the patient herself One of the main reasons is the shortage of organs
but also the future offspring. The major concern is for transplantation, which forces patients to find
that ex vivo manipulations with ovarian follicles extraordinary sources of donor organs. With the
might lead to genetic and epigenetic changes help of 3D printing technology, the problem of
in the egg cells which will directly affect the donor organ shortage can be solved, but an issue
offspring’s health. Moreover, quite often malignant of the accessibility of technology to the entire
diseases are hereditary. Thus, the artificial ovary population will arise. It is clear that the rich will
technology would contribute to the transmission of be able to take advantage of 3D bioprinting, which
genetic variants, associated with cancer to the next will further widen the gap between the possessing
generations and therefore will artificially increase classes and the indigent in our society. In the
the percentage of patients with cancer. Another case of commercial creation and transplantation
question that may arise with the artificial ovary of artificial ovaries, this expensive scientific and
technology implementation is the right to receive technical solution can benefit only few members
information about the birth of children. Can the of a certain group, bringing an ethical problem of
information of conception with the assistance social stratification of bioprinting .
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of artificial ovary 3D printing technology be A number of questions arise regarding the
traumatic to a child? Can it lead to a new form of inclusion criteria for artificial ovary technology
stigmatization in society in the future? implementation. Should there be an age limit for
Another important aspect of development and the use of technology? If a patient already has
introduction into the clinical practice the ovary children, should artificial ovary transplantation
bioprinting technology is that several years have be allowed? Can a woman with artificial ovaries
to pass from the moment of ovary removal to participate in IVF programs? How can the presence
the moment of the possibility of artificial ovary of an artificial ovary affect the physical and mental
transplantation due to oncological treatment. A integrity of a patient? If the ultimate goal of live
patient might refuse transplantation when the birth is not achieved, how the responsibility will
organ is printed, but the use of such an expensive be distributed among programmers, engineers,
technology might emotionally pressure and oblige biologists, and doctors? Should the state finance
a patient to motherhood. The problem of voluntary the production and transplantation of artificial
rejection of transplantation in the case when an ovary to its underprivileged, low-income citizens?
artificial organ is already printed raises both ethical
and legal questions of ownership of printed organs. 3 Conclusions and perspectives
The same question is relevant in case of a patient’s
death. Can an artificial ovary be donated for As it is easy to see, there are more questions than
scientific research or pharmaceutical drug testing? answers in the area of bioethical and legal issues
The next equally important issue involved in the of 3D bioprinting. The lack of answers is due to
development of bioprinted ovary is the aspect of the fact that the speed of development of research
technology commercialization and the associated and the increase of technological capabilities
moral issue. The legislation of Russia allows largely outstrips the speed of our understanding
commercial relations in assisted reproductive of the moral and legal consequences of their
technologies. For instance, in vitro fertilization development. Currently in Russia and globally,
(IVF) can be provided in clinics on a paid basis. there is neither suitable statutory framework
However, commercial relations in transplantation nor special regulatory guidelines governing 3D
are prohibited by law in Russia. For example, the bioprinting of tissues and organs and their further
International Journal of Bioprinting (2020)–Volume 6, Issue 3 13

