Eng 122
Prof. B. Kern
5-11-10
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/11/health/11eggs.html?ref=health
A May 10th New York Times article titled "Payment Offers to Egg Donors Prompt Scrutiny", discusses the business of collecting eggs from fertile women for stem cell research and couples who are unable to conceive. The article states that women are sometimes offered up to 50,000 dollars for donating eggs. There are guidelines set for the payment of eggs, and anything above 5,000 dollars is considered questionable. According to the article, some Ivy League schools have advertised high payments to their intelligent students for donations. These students are considered the "cream of the crop" of donors because of the universities they attend. Some think women should be paid closer to the amount men get for sperm donation, if at all. The reason for the high payments could be because "A typical payment for sperm donation is under $100, and providing the sample is quick. The egg donation process, in contrast, takes weeks." The article also cites symptoms women often get after giving donations. Those opposed to stem cell research have a problem with the high payments especially, because it obviously will bring more donors.
I don't have a problem with women being paid large amounts of money because it is a more serious process, but I do think men should get paid more. I think the law should be respected, but payment is, and should be at the discretion of whomever is paying. If someone wants to pay someone 50,000 dollars for an egg because she graduated in the top 1% of her class, then so be it.
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