Abstract

Reproductive technology is in the forefront of medical research and contemporary bioethical debates. In the United States, ethical issues involved are often framed by conflicts among legal, scientific, and religious perspectives. The primary religious voices influencing these North American discussions are those grounded in various Jewish and Christian traditions. However, this country is known for its religious and cultural diversity. This diversity of worldviews presents challenges that the field of bioethics needs to address. My goal is to inform and contribute to the ongoing bioethical dialogues and to increase the cultural/religious awareness and sensitivity of health care professionals. ;This is an interdisciplinary project that weaves elements from the fields of South Asian Studies, religion, literature, the practice of medicine, and bioethics. From the Mahabharata birth narratives of the five Pan&dotbelow;dava brothers and their 101 Kaurava cousins, points of contact between antiquity and modern reproductive technology are discussed. Then, four relevant topics are discussed: the priority society places on having children; the acceptance of a variety of creative means for producing children: the active role women play in determining reproductive choices; and an interrelationship between gods and humans in the process of procreation. Finally, five characteristics that are important to Hinduism are extracted, namely: the focus on societal good; the underlying unity of all life; the requirements of dharma, the multivalent nature of Hinduism; and a theory of karma. Utilizing the above insights, I then examine the case of Jaycee Buzzanca, a baby conceived with donor gametes, through in vitro fertilization, and carried by a surrogate. ;Jaycee's case not only challenges the limits of the U.S. legal system; it also highlights complexities of the ethical issues that can accompany the use of assisted reproductive technologies. By examining Jaycee's predicament in light of Hindu thought, I analyze Hindu responses. Though the above principles preclude the formulation of the definitive Hindu ethic, they do provide a beneficial set of lenses through which one can examine the ethical issues associated with assisted reproductive technology.