Sperm Retrieval Ethical Issues

1186 Words3 Pages

II. Research:
A. Source 1: Life after death? Ethical questions raised after a request for postmortem sperm retrieval in the emergency department
URL: http://tinyurl.com/ho8efq5; http://preview.tinyurl.com/ho8efq5 *URL was extensively long* This article relates to the central ethical issue because it discusses the ethical dimensions of postmortem sperm retrieval, as well as a specific dilemma when it was requested. This source provides background information on how postmortem sperm retrieval came to be. In 1980, the first request was made by a women whose husband died from a head injury. A study from the Journal of Urology also reported that many of the requests for postmortem sperm retrieval were made by significant others and wives. This …show more content…

The author discusses how the United States does not have any set government regulations regarding postmortem sperm retrieval and that it is up to medical institutions to make the decision if they will help a patient with PMSR. The author also mentions a plethora of ethical concerns regarding postmortem sperm retrieval. One of these concerns has to deal with the potential child: Is it in the best interest of a child to be born into the world with no father? Many medical institutions will perform the retrieval if there is enough evidence proving that the deceased man wanted to have children. The medical institution will honor a request for postmortem sperm retrieval if the couple expressed wanting to have children to many of their family members and friends. In the article, the author mentions a man by the name of Arthur Caplan, head of the division of medical ethics at the NYU Langone Medical Center. Caplan states that the man’s wishes should be clear in order to go through with the postmortem sperm retrieval. As a matter of fact, some institutions require written consent from the deceased man before they retrieve any sperm. In conclusion, the author suggests that there need to be set polices regarding postmortem sperm retrieval, and that these policies are in the best interest of the families and the …show more content…

This article relates to the main ethical question because it discusses the several reasons why postmortem sperm retrieval is attempted. For example, the authors discuss a specific incident in France where the widow of a cancer patient requested her deceased husband’s sperm be stored; she argued that her departed husband wanted this. The authors go on to state that different governments have different rules regarding postmortem sperm retrieval. In places such as France, Germany, Sweden, and Canada, these countries have legislation that prohibit all posthumous assisted reproduction. This shows that many countries are against PMSR, but why? The authors also mention that physicians do not have a duty to carry out the request of postmortem sperm retrieval. In actuality, a physician has the right to choose if they want to perform the retrieval or not, and they are free to decline. Another issue the authors bring up is the interests of the child. The author mentions, “The concern is that bringing the child into a single parent household would be harmful to the child” (Strong, Gingrich, and Kutteh). They argue that a child raised in a single home would experience certain disadvantages, as compared to a child being raised in a two-parent home. But, the authors also mention that many say it is not wrong for parents to have children when they know their child will experience some disadvantages in

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