Human rights domain for reproductive biotechnology: a qualitative study on Turkish case


Tezin Türü: Doktora

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi, Siyaset Bilimi ve Kamu Yönetimi Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2018

Öğrenci: GÜLSEVİM EVSEL

Danışman: CEM DEVECİ

Özet:

The aim of this study is to investigate which legal and social problems occurred from the side of some specific human groups whose bodies and organs were negatively affected by reproductive biotechnology applications. For this aim, thirteen in-depth interviews were conducted with surrogate mothers, people who had their children via surrogacy, oocyte donors, people who had their children via oocyte donation and two embryologists. In this dissertation, Capabilities Approach of Nussbaum was chosen as the main theoretical guide and, qualitative interview data, which was generated from the interviews with ARTAP (Assisted Reproductive Technologically Affected People), was discussed for each human capability item. These capability items are life, bodily integrity, senses, imagination and thought, emotions, practical reason, affiliation, being in relation with other species, play and control over one’s environment. After focusing on human rights problems and constraints in having children via using third parties’ bodies or reproductive cells in the findings chapter of this dissertation; a political environment, which was designated by law and alternatives, were suggested. Finally, evaluation of the human rights problems and constraints concerning ARTAP in the human rights agenda is very important. Designation and monitoring of this field by regulations would mitigate human rights problems and constraints relatively. Research findings support the existence of ARTAP’s problems and constraints in their human capabilities. For this reason, in the final section of this dissertation, two policy problems were identified based on the research findings and multi-level policy suggestions were made.