Child-rearing ability and the provision of fertility services: an Ethics Committee opinion

Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.10.006

Fertility and sterility, 2017

Child-rearing ability and the provision of fertility services: an Ethics Committee opinion

Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Committee members: Judith Daar, Jean Benward, Lee Collins, Joseph Davis , Owen Davis, Leslie Francis, Elena Gates, Elizabeth Ginsburg, Susan Gitlin, Sigal Klipstein, Barbara Koenig, Andrew La Barbera, Laurence McCullough, Richard Reindollar, Ginny Ryan, Mark Sauer, Rebecca Sokol, Sean Tipton, Lynn Westphal

DOI 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.10.006 PMID 29202968

Abstract

Fertility programs may withhold services from prospective patients on the basis of well-grounded reasons that those patients will be unable to provide minimally adequate or safe care for offspring. This document was reviewed and updated; this version replaces the previous version of this document, last published July 2013 (Fertil Steril 2013;100:50-53).

Topics

Ethics and Policy: Reproductive Ethics ART Ethics
Clinical Guidelines and Standards: Guidelines by Issuing Body United States Professional Societies

Judith Daar, Jean Benward, Lee Collins, Joseph Davis, Owen Davis, Leslie Francis, Elena Gates, Elizabeth Ginsburg, Susan Gitlin, Sigal Klipstein, Barbara Koenig, Andrew La Barbera, Laurence McCullough, Richard Reindollar, Ginny Ryan, Mark Sauer, Rebecca Sokol, Sean Tipton, Lynn Westphal, 0000-0003-0284-2845

J Daar, J Benward, L Collins, Joe Davis, Joey Davis, J Davis, O Davis, L Francis, E Gates, Liz Ginsburg, Beth Ginsburg, Betsy Ginsburg, E Ginsburg, Sue Gitlin, S Gitlin, S Klipstein, Barb Koenig, B Koenig, Andy Barbera, Drew Barbera, A Barbera, Larry McCullough, L McCullough, Rick Reindollar, Dick Reindollar, Rich Reindollar, R Reindollar, G Ryan, M Sauer, Becky Sokol, R Sokol, S Tipton, L Westphal

PMID 29202968 29202968 DOI 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.10.006 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.10.006 Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine et al. 2017, Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine 2017

Cite this article

Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2017). Child-rearing ability and the provision of fertility services: an Ethics Committee opinion. Fertility and sterility. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.10.006

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Ensuring human rights in the provision of fertility care and infertility interventions

Van Der Poel S et al., 2018 Fertility and Sterility

There are reports that define the significant unmet need for access to fertility care and infertility interventions for heterosexual couples - those who experience involuntary childlessness and who desire a biological child. This need for access to care rarely measures those couples in non-heterosexual relationships, single individuals or in key/neglected populations. This disparity in recognition of need, and resultant lack of access to care is glaring. Universal access and attainment of the highest standard of care requires the provision of high-quality information and services that fulfills, protects and respects all individuals. The objective of this study was to identify the key principles that support access to fertility care and infertility interventions, and to provide a human rights framework to guide processes during the development of draft recommendations to the World Health Organization (WHO) for clinical practice. To evaluate the public health and human rights and gender impact on infertility, a literature review and systematic analysis were conducted to look at the following questions. What are the existing policies, public health directives and research evidence gaps impacting gender and human rights in the context of involuntary childlessness and infertility; and, What human rights principles guide the development and implementation of fertility care and infertility related laws, policies and systems? A detailed search strategy in collaboration with the WHO-HQ librarian, introducing various combinations of a predetermined set of terms was undertaken to identify primary literature, systematic reviews and gray literature, including documentation regarding current status of human rights and gender equality within policy and practices. Using the search strategy defined, we were able to identify 488 articles and documents, of which 102 were found appropriate. They were then categorized using 9 principles previously identified by WHO and used to address the topic of contraception. From this process, we generated a list of 12 principles which will be presented that cover issues such as non-discrimination, non-stigmatization as well as informed-decision making and autonomy, sharing of benefits and ensuring provision of care that includes the recognition of the health and well-being of the parent or parents as well as the children born. During the systematic review of the published data and evidence for the development of draft clinical recommendations to be presented to and for the World Health Organization consideration, it was clear that a human rights framework was required. Our systematic review process used research and policy evidence to support the development of a framework of principles that can better ensure different human rights dimensions are clearly and systematically integrated into the provision of fertility care information and fertility interventions and services.

Child-rearing ability and the provision of fertility services: an Ethics Committee opinion

Abstract

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Cite this article

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