Ethics in embryo research: a position statement by the ASRM Ethics in Embryo Research Task Force and the ASRM Ethics Committee
Ethics in Embryo Research Task Force, Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Committee members:Paula Amato, Judith Daar, Leslie Francis, Sigal Klipstein, David Ball, Paolo Rinaudo, Alexandar Rajovic, Marissa Palmore, Sean Tipton, Christos Coutifaris, Richard Reindollar, Susan Gitlin, Lee Collins, …, Joseph Davis, Owen Davis, Elena Gates, Elizabeth Ginsburg, Laurence McCullough, Richard Paulson, Ginny Ryan, Mark Sauer, Lynn Westphal, Julianne Zweifel, …
Ethics in Embryo Research Task Force, & Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2020). Ethics in embryo research: a position statement by the ASRM Ethics in Embryo Research Task Force and the ASRM Ethics Committee. Fertility and sterility. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.10.012
Ethics in Embryo Research Task Force, Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Ethics in embryo research: a position statement by the ASRM Ethics in Embryo Research Task Force and the ASRM Ethics Committee. Fertility and sterility. 2020. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.10.012
Ethics in Embryo Research Task Force, and Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. "Ethics in embryo research: a position statement by the ASRM Ethics in Embryo Research Task Force and the ASRM Ethics Committee." Fertility and sterility, 2020.
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RRM Academy Synopsis
ASRM holds embryo research ethically acceptable with "safeguards"
A 2020 ASRM task force and Ethics Committee issued this consensus position statement. The ASRM holds that making human embryos just for research is ethically acceptable under set conditions.The Society endorses the view of the embryo as potential.
Key Findings
The Task Force holds that forming human embryos expressly for research is "ethically acceptable" when the research follows the statement's own ethical recommendations.
The statement holds that research on existing embryos, or embryos made for research, is "ethically acceptable" if safeguards apply. Embryo numbers "should not exceed" what the question needs.
The statement names three views of the embryo: person, property, and potential. The Task Force and ASRM endorse "embryo as potential," where the embryo is "neither person nor property."
The statement holds that embryo research requires the gamete providers' prior written informed consent ("Under no circumstances" otherwise). The Task Force says embryo donors "should not be paid as an enticement."
Research aiming at pregnancy and birth "should only be undertaken after pre-clinical research" shows acceptable safety, under IRB oversight. The Task Force holds that blanket federal prohibitions should give way to guidelines.
The ASRM Task Force and Ethics Committee's Position
“The formation of human embryos expressly for research purposes is ethically acceptable so long as the proposed research is consistent with the ethical recommendations set out in this position statement.”
Quoted verbatim from this paper.
Interpretation
The statement is ethical reasoning by a task force and committee, and reports no trial or cohort data. The authors call it their "considered judgment" and say individual ASRM members may disagree. The document sets out the views of the embryo as person, property, and potential before choosing one. Its embryo-as-potential view addresses embryos donated or made for research only.
RRM Context
Restorative reproductive medicine starts from another question: why conception is not happening, and how to restore reproductive function. Embryo research belongs to the laboratory science of IVF and stem cells. The person, property, and potential views map the positions people hold on embryos. Each couple weighs them by their own convictions.
Our editorial summary of this paper, not the article's abstract.
Abstract
Scientific research using human embryos advances human health and offspring well-being and provides vital insights into the mechanisms for reproduction and disease. Research involving human embryos is ethically acceptable if it is likely to provide significant new knowledge that may benefit human health, well-being of the offspring, or reproduction.
Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 2018
Ethics and Policy › Reproductive Ethics › Embryo Research · Clinical Guidelines and Standards › Guidelines by Issuing Body › United States Professional Societies
Paula Amato, Judith Daar, Leslie Francis, Sigal Klipstein, David Ball, Paolo Rinaudo, Alexandar Rajovic, Marissa Palmore, Sean Tipton, Christos Coutifaris, Richard Reindollar, Susan Gitlin, Lee Collins, Joseph Davis, Owen Davis, Elena Gates, Elizabeth Ginsburg, Laurence McCullough, Richard Paulson, Ginny Ryan, Mark Sauer, Lynn Westphal, Julianne Zweifel, 0000-0003-0284-2845
P Amato, J Daar, L Francis, S Klipstein, Dave Ball, D Ball, P Rinaudo, A Rajovic, M Palmore, S Tipton, C Coutifaris, Rick Reindollar, Dick Reindollar, Rich Reindollar, R Reindollar, Sue Gitlin, S Gitlin, L Collins, Joe Davis, Joey Davis, J Davis, O Davis, E Gates, Liz Ginsburg, Beth Ginsburg, Betsy Ginsburg, E Ginsburg, Larry McCullough, L McCullough, Rick Paulson, Dick Paulson, Rich Paulson, R Paulson, G Ryan, M Sauer, L Westphal, J Zweifel
PMID 32106974 32106974 DOI 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.10.012 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.10.012 Ethics in Embryo Research Task Force et al. 2020, Ethics in Embryo Research Task Force 2020