The Australia experience: cultural and political factors shaping human embryo assessment during in vitro fertilization

The adoption of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and screening (PGS) is increasing in Australia. However, the Australian public is meeting some applications in these and related artificial reproductive technology (ART) industries with concern. Public consultation is an important part of how guidelines regarding ART are crafted in Australia, and the high level of government subsidy for ART procedures through our Medicare system increases the level of public involvement in this industry. As such, Australians are tackling important social and cultural questions about commercialization of the ART industry and the use of PGS for nonmedical reasons. The potential for using PGD and PGS for nonmedical sex selection and selection against embryos with stigmatized conditions has sparked debate and critique from organizations and experts who advocate for people living with a diverse range of conditions. It seems likely that the landscape for PGD and PGS will change significantly over the next decade. As medicine becomes increasingly a global market, it will be interesting to see how this shapes Australian sentiment.