Science communication and ethical decision-making on MAR

Monica Carvalhommcarvalho@porto.ucp.pt

CATÓLICA PORTOINSTITUTE OF BIOETHICS

Science communication and ethical decision-making on MAR

CATÓLICA PORTOINSTITUTE OF BIOETHICS

Science communication and ethical decision-making on MAR

The desire to have a baby: MAR in Portugalshort documentary: 30’ Color HD

Director: Diogo Morais

Production: Monica Carvalho

Screenplay: Susana Magalhães

Portugal, portuguese

Institute of Bioethics and Research Center For Science and Technology in Art

Portuguese Catholic University

CATÓLICA PORTOINSTITUTE OF BIOETHICS

Science communication and ethical decision-making on MAR

Film production started in June 2011 and was finished by February 2012.

It is a scientific documentary about Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR) in Portugal, with a bioethical approach: i.e. an approach that includes scientific knowledge, a reflection on the ethical questions raised by MAR and a humanistic view on the meaning of the desire to have a baby.

CATÓLICA PORTOINSTITUTE OF BIOETHICS

Science communication and ethical decision-making on MAR

The documentary was based on the cases of three couples who received fertility treatments and told us their stories in interviews.

There are also experts from different areas such as gynecology, biology, psychology, law, genetics, bioethics and also a journalist who received many fertility treatments and wrote a book about her experience.

People from the general public also participated (adults and children).

CATÓLICA PORTOINSTITUTE OF BIOETHICS

Science communication and ethical decision-making on MARAccording to the way the direction and the sound and the image post-production was made, we can say that the documentary was treated as a cinematographic work. Furthermore, it has an original soundtrack.

Currently, work is underway to release the documentary.

It is planned to exhibit the film through a TV station and, later on the internet.

CATÓLICA PORTOINSTITUTE OF BIOETHICS

Science communication and ethical decision-making on MAR

The film is a part of the research project

Promoting citizenship through the reflection on the ethical issues in life sciences

The project is aimed to develop science communication initiatives through the ethical reflection on scientific issues.

CATÓLICA PORTOINSTITUTE OF BIOETHICS

Science communication and ethical decision-making on MAR

As part of this project, in 2012 the film has been shown to college students.

The students are invited to complete two printed multiple choice questionnaires, before and after watching the movie. In the first there are 11 questions about some information and opinions on Medically Assisted Reproduction in Portugal. In the second questionnaire there are 9 questions about their opinion on embryo cryopreservation and egg/sperm donation.

CATÓLICA PORTOINSTITUTE OF BIOETHICS

Science communication and ethical decision-making on MAR

Thus, by means of a quantitative method the aim is to find out if there are significant changes on people’s awareness and opinion after watching the documentary.

The answers are being analysed by the software IBM SPSS Statistics 20. Currently we only can make statements about 47 subjects’ answers until now analysed.

The answers given before and after watching the documentary were compared using a t-test for paired samples.

CATÓLICA PORTOINSTITUTE OF BIOETHICS

Science communication and ethical decision-making on MAR

Concerning the answers to each question made to 47 students, the results indicate there are not significant differences before and after watching the film.

Although, there are some changes, but they are few and according to the calculation of mean and standard deviation before and after the documentary, it does not seem to be possible to establish a correlation between the film and such changes.

However, if one compares the frequencies of “don’t know” or “don’t have an opinion” or “prefer not to say” before and after the film, we find very significant differences.

CATÓLICA PORTOINSTITUTE OF BIOETHICS

Science communication and ethical decision-making on MAR

The frequencies of “don’t know” or “don’t have na opinion” or “prefer not to say” after the film have decreased significantly.

CATÓLICA PORTOINSTITUTE OF BIOETHICS

Science communication and ethical decision-making on MAR

This results indicate that, although people were invited to complete the same questionnaires twice, i. e., questionnaire 1 and questionnaire 2 both before and after watching the film:

1) they tended to keep their answers, especially their opinions

2) they seemed to be more disposed to answer the questions or to think about the issues proposed after the film, even being the second time they answered the same questionnaires.

CATÓLICA PORTOINSTITUTE OF BIOETHICS

Science communication and ethical decision-making on MAR

CONCLUSION

Although this is a preliminary study, these results seem to be interesting due to the possibilities revealed by such scientific and ethical based narratives, especially at the time that the public is called for participate and deliberate about such issues.

CATÓLICA PORTOINSTITUTE OF BIOETHICS

Science communication and ethical decision-making on MAR

The documentary The desire to have a baby: MAR in Portugal will be presented today in the screening session at 11:15 AM in room 9.

It has been also continuously projected during the conference in room 106.

CATÓLICA PORTOINSTITUTE OF BIOETHICS

Thank you very much!