During the years of 1933 to 1945, medical experiments were conducted on prisoners in Nazi Germany as part of efforts to create a strong and “racially superior” human population. These experiments involved the use of advanced technology and the harvesting of unborn children, body parts, skeletons, and organs. Mass sterilizations and intentional injuries and infections were also carried out on unwilling prisoners to test treatment methods. The knowledge we have today about a woman’s reproductive system is partly due to the deadly experiments conducted by Nazi Germany.
Adolf Hitler established Lebensborn, a German institution focused on caring for women and children who fit the “right” eugenic profile of light skin, blond hair, and blue eyes. Despite Hitler’s encouragement for procreation within this group, high birth rates were not achieved. These eugenic practices continue to influence German laws governing assisted reproductive technologies, which are considered some of the most stringent in the world.
In contrast, the United States is facing moral issues related to in vitro fertilization (IVF), with many fertility clinics offering services that may lead to eugenic practices. For example, preimplantation genetic diagnosis is widely available for selecting genetic traits, including sex, IQ, and physical attributes. This raises concerns about the ethical implications of using IVF technology for purposes beyond simply aiding couples who are unable to conceive naturally.
To address these concerns, lawmakers in the United States should learn from the history of Nazi Germany and implement regulations to ensure the ethical practice of assisted reproductive technologies. This includes limiting the creation of surplus embryos, prohibiting eugenic tests, and setting high standards for medical care in IVF procedures. By adopting similar common-sense regulations seen in Germany, the U.S. can protect the sanctity of human life while still allowing couples access to assisted reproductive technologies.
Furthermore, there is growing public support for legislation that prohibits the destruction of embryonic life in IVF procedures. By enacting such laws, lawmakers can address the ethical challenges posed by the fertility industry and ensure that the creation, selection, and preservation of life are governed by the highest moral and medical standards. Germany’s experience serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of under-regulated medical industries, and the United States should strive to prevent similar ethical lapses through effective governance of assisted reproductive technologies.
