Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Informed consent in posthumous sperm procurement

  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Assisted reproductive technologies are increasingly more present in our everyday life: from classical sperm/egg donation or in vitro fertilization to newer, more controversial methods such as surrogate motherhood, male pregnancies or posthumous sperm procurement. Every year, new concepts are emerging in this field and the medical world is not always prepared to deal with them.

Material and method

The greatest problem of using posthumous sperm procurement as an assisted reproductive method resides in analyzing consent related. An extensive research of the scientific literature revealed eight possible situations which we will present and analyze in this article.

Results

By analyzing consent related issues we present a decision making algorithm for posthumous sperm procurement.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hostiuc S (2009) Tehnici reproductive moderne. Reproducerea asistata, Bucharest

    Google Scholar 

  2. Crha I, Dostal J, Ventruba P, Kudela M, Zakova J (2004) Posthumous sperm procurement and use—ethical and legal dilemmas. Ceska Gynekol 69:335–339

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Dostal J, Utrata R, Loyka S, Brezinova J, Svobodova M, Shenfield F (2005) Post-mortem sperm retrieval in new European Union countries: case report. Hum Reprod 20:2359–2361

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Landau R (2004) Posthumous sperm retrieval for the purpose of later insemination or IVF in Israel: an ethical and psychosocial critique. Hum Reprod 19:1952–1956

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Walker R et al (2005) Informed consent to undergo treatment for substance abuse: a recommended approach. J Subst Abuse Treat 29:241–251

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Hurwitz JM, Batzer FR (2004) A guest editorial: posthumous sperm procurement: demand and concerns. Obstetr Gynecol Survey 59:806–808

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Angela B, Iustin L, Mircea B (2009) Consimtamantul informat in practica pediatrica si in cercetarea vizand copilul [Informed consent in pediatric practice] Revista Romana de Bioetica 7, (online)

  8. Desai RV, Krishnamurthy M, Patel H, Hoffman DN (2004) Postmortem sperm retrieval: an ethical dilemma. Am J Med 116:858–858

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hans JD (2008) Attitudes toward posthumous harvesting and reproduction. Death Stud 32:837–869

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Miles Rothman C (1999) Live sperm, dead bodies. J Androl 20:456–457

    Google Scholar 

  11. (2008) Consent to the use and storage of sperm and embryos in donation. Human Fertilisation and Embriology Authority, UK

  12. Bahadur G (2002) Death and conception. Hum Reprod 17:2769–2775

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Batzer FR, Hurwitz JM, Caplan A (2003) Postmortem parenthood and the need for a protocol with posthumous sperm procurement. Fertil Steril 79:1263–1269

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Curca G, Buda O, Capatina C, Marinescu M, Hostiuc S et al (2008) Study on domestic violence: a legal medicine perspective. Rom J Leg Med 16:226–242

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ciobanu M, Enache A, Lungu D, Matei V, Ciocani M, Belei V (2007) Sudden death in pregnancy with HIV. Rom J Leg Med 15:195–201

    Google Scholar 

  16. Strong C (2006) Gamete retrieval after death or irreversible unconsciousness: what counts as informed consent? Camb Q Healthcare Eth 15:161–171

    Google Scholar 

  17. Rubin S (1998) When doctors say no: the battleground of medical futility. Indiana University Press, Bloomington

    Google Scholar 

  18. Beauchamp T, Childress J (2001) Principles of biomedical ethics. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  19. Orr RD, Siegler M (2002) Is posthumous semen retrieval ethically permissible? J Med Ethics 28:299–302

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. White G (1999) Commentary: legal and ethical aspects of sperm retrieval. J Law Med Ethics 27:359–361

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Corrigan E, Mumford SE, Hull MG (1996) Posthumous storage and use of sperm and embryos: survey of opinion of treatment centers. BMJ 313:24

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. McWhinnie AM (2000) Children from assisted reproductive technology: the psychological issues and ethical dilemmas. Early Child Develop Care 163(1):13–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Batzer FR, Hurwitz JM, Caplan A (2003) Postmortem parenthood and the need for a protocol with posthumous sperm procurement. Fertil Steril 79(6):1263–1269. doi:10.1016/S0015-0282(03)00384-4

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. California. Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 7. (1993, June 17). Hecht v. Superior Court (Kane). Wests Calif Report 20, 275–291

Download references

Conflict of interest statement

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Legal Medicine, No.9 Vitan Birzesti Street, 042122, Bucharest, Romania

    Sorin Hostiuc & Cristian George Curca

Authors
  1. Sorin Hostiuc
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cristian George Curca
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sorin Hostiuc.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hostiuc, S., Curca, C.G. Informed consent in posthumous sperm procurement. Arch Gynecol Obstet 282, 433–438 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1475-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1475-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation