Japanese Government considers supporting assisted reproductive technologies

The Japanese government will consider potential legislation to support assisted reproductive technologies, including surrogate pregnancies, for infertile couples, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said during a news conference on Monday, the Kyodo News/Yahoo! News reports.

However, surrogate births raise many "very difficult" issues involving couples, children born by the procedure and the general public, according to Prime Minster Shinzo Abe (Kyodo News/Yahoo! News, 10/16).

Japan's "conventional legal interpretation" says that the woman who delivers an infant is the child's mother, AFP/Yahoo! News reports.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's council in 2001 after the first surrogate birth was reported in the country called for a ban on the practice.

According to AFP/Yahoo! News, lawmakers have blocked legislation that would implement a ban, but the Japan Society of Obstetrics of Gynecology in 2003 barred surrogate births.

"Rather than locking in the council's direction as law, I think we will explore other directions," Health Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa said at a news conference on Tuesday, adding, "We are now seeing rising public opinion in support of [surrogacy]."

Sanae Takaichi, state minister in charge of gender equality and population, said, "The discussion is highly welcome, but it is extremely difficult to judge whether surrogate birth can be encouraged."

Justice Minister Jinen Nagase said, "We have not decided whether we should accept this medical procedure.

If we decide on it at this stage, it will only cause confusion" (Hiyama, AFP/Yahoo! News, 10/17).