Helmut Frister, chairman of the German Ethics Council, criticized the often contradictory societal handling of reproductive medicine options. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post”, he stated that a certain kind of moral hypocrisy is evident in the reproductive medicine sphere.
According to Frister, surrogacy is the less significant issue. The greater problem is the donation of eggs, which is also prohibited in Germany. As a result, many women have traveled to countries such as Spain, the Czech Republic, or Austria. Frister noted that German society appears thankful that this option exists abroad, yet it struggles to allow it domestically.
Referring to past discussions about jurist Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf and abortions, as well as CDU politician Jens Spahn and surrogacy, he observed: “These topics touch upon people’s moral concepts. That is why they are debated so emotionally.” He added that the situation only becomes problematic when the debate remains confined to an emotional level and precludes a rational weighing of the involved goods.
Frister argued that this is not a trait specific to Germany. Instead, he commented that what is “typically German” is the tendency to quickly frame such questions as arguments over principles, and subsequently insisting on the consistent adherence to those principles.
Crucially, he stressed that ethical questions must be openly discussed to facilitate a societal dialogue that can eventually lead to political change. He warned, however, that the manner in which this debate is conducted is vital: if counterarguments are excluded and trade-offs are avoided, the result is more likely to be polarization than mutual understanding.
