Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey: Episode 1171 Summary

Podcast Information:

• Title: Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey
• Host/Author: Blaze Podcast Network
• Episode: Ep 1171 | Egg Donation Centers Are Exploiting College Girls & Military Wives
• Guest: Kallie Fell
• Release Date: April 14, 2025

1. Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

In Episode 1171 of "Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey," host Ali Stuckey welcomes Kallie Fell, the Executive Director for the Center for Bioethics and Culture (CBC Network) and Program Director for the Paul Ramsey Institute. With a background as a perinatal nurse and expertise in reproductive physiology, Kallie brings critical insights into the ethical dilemmas surrounding egg donation and surrogacy in the United States.

Notable Quote:

• Ali Stuckey [00:01]: "Who are the men that are renting wombs and buying babies from women in America? What exactly is the dark underbelly of the IVF and reproductive technology industry in the United States?"

2. The Center for Bioethics and Culture: Mission and Work

Kallie provides an overview of the CBC Network, an educational nonprofit founded by Jennifer Law in 2000. The organization focuses on educating the public and lawmakers about bioethical issues, particularly those affecting vulnerable populations. CBC utilizes various mediums, including documentary films, podcasts, and interviews, to disseminate their research and findings.

Notable Quote:

• Kallie Fell [01:25]: "The center for Bioethics and Culture is an educational nonprofit that was started by our founder, Jennifer Law in 2000. We've been around for 25 years now, and we work in the space of educating people and lawmakers on bioethical issues that most profoundly affect humanity and the vulnerable among us."

3. Defining Bioethics in Reproductive Technologies

Ali and Kallie delve into the definition of bioethics, emphasizing its relevance in medicine and biotechnological advancements. They discuss the moral implications of technologies like IVF and egg donation, highlighting that while science can determine what is possible, it cannot ascertain what is ethical.

Notable Quote:

• Ali Stuckey [03:01]: "Science or technology can tell us what is possible, but it can't tell us what is moral. We have the responsibility to ask, is this moral or is this ethical?"

4. Egg Selling: Exploitation of Young Women

The conversation shifts to the exploitation inherent in the egg donation industry. Kallie explains how egg selling targets young women, often college students or military wives, under the guise of altruism and financial incentive. She criticizes the misleading advertisements that promise substantial rewards while downplaying the risks involved.

Notable Quotes:

• Kallie Fell [08:38]: "Young women are exploited for their eggs and they're not donating their eggs, they're being bought and purchased."
• Ali Stuckey [10:48]: "This is not sex, but it is selling your body for money, sometimes for desperation."

5. Surrogacy: Ethical Concerns and Risks

Surrogacy practices are scrutinized, with Kallie highlighting the physical and emotional toll on surrogate mothers. She points out the high-risk nature of surrogate pregnancies, including increased rates of C-sections, preterm births, and gestational diabetes. The discussion also touches on the ethical issues of bond formation between surrogates and the children they carry.

Notable Quotes:

• Kallie Fell [26:42]: "Surrogate pregnancies are high risk in nature. They set a mom up to have increased rates of C-sections, preterm birth, placental abruption..."
• Ali Stuckey [27:35]: "Surrogates have to be pumped with hormones... and we don't know all the consequences of that."

6. Legal and Ethical Implications of Assisted Reproductive Technologies

The lack of regulation in the fertility industry is a significant concern. Kallie criticizes the absence of a national database to track the long-term health of egg donors and surrogates, drawing parallels to organ donation practices. She also discusses the ethical issues surrounding consent and the exploitation of altruistic intentions.

Notable Quotes:

• Kallie Fell [22:34]: "We don't have a national database that tracks these women who sell their eggs long term, which we do in the cases of organ donation."
• Ali Stuckey [34:20]: "This is a child who's not consenting. Didn’t actually be a part of this."

7. Impact on Children and Genetic History

Ali and Kallie explore the ramifications for children born through egg donation and surrogacy. They discuss the challenges these children face in accessing their genetic history and the potential health risks associated with assisted reproductive technologies. The ethical considerations extend to the rights of these children to know their genetic origins and medical backgrounds.

Notable Quotes:

• Kallie Fell [22:46]: "There's very little tracking beyond birth rates and live birth weights."
• Ali Stuckey [23:01]: "You're depriving that child of their right to their genetic parents and their medical history."

8. International Surrogacy and Surrogacy Tourism

The episode addresses the global dimension of surrogacy, particularly the phenomenon of surrogacy tourism. Kallie highlights how countries like India, France, and Italy have outlawed commercial surrogacy to prevent the exploitation of women. She emphasizes the ethical breaches involved when intended parents travel internationally to hire surrogate mothers, often leading to abandonment and emotional trauma for the surrogates.

Notable Quotes:

• Kallie Fell [43:34]: "Italy just recently closed its borders to intended parents, leaving Italy to exploit women in other countries."
• Ali Stuckey [41:18]: "It's still very troubling. And so... women come over from predominantly Asia, in my own experience, to have their children."

9. Eugenics in Reproductive Technology

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the eugenic foundations of reproductive technologies. Kallie traces the history of IVF and egg donation to eugenic practices, arguing that these technologies prioritize certain genetic traits over others. She warns against the moral and ethical dangers of designing offspring based on selected genetic characteristics.

Notable Quotes:

• Kallie Fell [53:23]: "The very start of assisted reproductive technologies is eugenic to the core."
• Kallie Fell [56:35]: "The founder or developer of IVF was part of a eugenics society... it's so eugenic."

10. Conclusion and Further Resources

The episode concludes with Kallie promoting CBC Network's documentary trilogy on gender medicine and assisted reproductive technologies, available for free on YouTube. She encourages listeners who have personal experiences with egg selling or surrogacy to share their stories to raise awareness and drive change.

Notable Quotes:

• Kallie Fell [60:16]: "All of our films are completely free. Free on YouTube. Our YouTube channel is BCNetwork.org."
• Ali Stuckey [60:24]: "Thank you so much for having me. It's been a pleasure."

Key Takeaways:

• The fertility industry in the U.S. often exploits young women, particularly college students and military wives, through misleading egg donation and surrogacy practices.
• Assisted reproductive technologies carry significant physical and emotional risks that are frequently downplayed or ignored.
• There is a dire need for greater regulation and ethical oversight in the fertility industry to protect donors, surrogates, and the children born from these processes.
• Historical ties between reproductive technologies and eugenics raise profound moral and ethical questions that society must address.
• International surrogacy practices often result in the exploitation and abandonment of surrogate mothers, highlighting the global ethical implications.

Further Resources:

• Documentaries by CBC Network: Available for free on CBCNetwork.org
• Follow Kallie Fell: @calfel
• Center for Bioethics and Culture: cbc-network.org

This detailed summary encapsulates the critical discussions from Episode 1171, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the ethical challenges in the fertility and reproductive technology industries.