“It’s an Issue that Must Be Addressed, Once Infertility Is Declared a Disease” Study of The Discursive Mechanisms Used by Chilean Deputies to Justify their Positions Regarding Assisted Reproduction

In Chile, the use and development of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have been on a constant rise, with a total of 1932 cycles registered in 2009 (SOCMER, 2009). However, the legal frame that regulates these technologies is weak, so in practice, the clinics that provide them are the ones that supervise their use. This is why, we wanted to understand the  position of those who have the faculty to legislate on the use of ART in Chile, namely, the deputies of the Republic, focusing on how they justify their standpoints. Our investigation was of qualitative nature, because it gives more space for reflexivity and flexibility in the investigation process (Mason, 2002). We collected information using semi-structured interviews, conducted to 16 deputies of the two main political coalitions present in Chile. In the deputies’ discourse, different positions concerning the use of ART’s are manifested: there are those who demand the respect of human dignity and nature and those who foment scientific development, but in general, there is consensus about the necessity to amplify ART’s regulation and incentivize its development, safeguarding ethics and equity, always.