The story of an unnamed Australian couple desperate for a baby girl is raising thorny questions about how far parents should be allowed to go to "design" their future children. The couple, with three sons already, recently lost a baby girl shortly after birth. The mother got pregnant again using in vitro fertilization (IVF), but had an abortion after learning she was carrying twin boys. Now the couple is appealing to a state tribunal for special permission to use IVF to pick their baby's gender, a practice that is banned in their state, Victoria, unless needed to prevent genetic disease. "We want to be given the opportunity to have a girl," says the man. Should they be allowed to use IVF in this way?
No, this is disturbing and should not be permitted: While "I'll stand behind a woman's right to have an abortion for any reason," says Sierra Black at Strollerderby, I find "this couple's actions... appalling." They're clearly "flailing in grief" and "probably shouldn't be adding any children to their family right now, regardless of gender." I'm glad that Australia doesn't allow gender selection, and "I hope that doesn't change."
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