Misconduct in third-party assisted reproduction: 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, Laurence McCullough, Richard Paulson, Richard Reindollar, Ginny Ryan, Mark Sauer, Sean Tipton, Lynn Westphal, Julianne Zweifel, …
Professionals who discover misconduct or other undisclosed information that would be material to the participation of another party (such as a donor, gestational carrier, intended parent, or lawyer) in an assisted reproductive technology arrangement should encourage disclosure to that party. In some instances, it is ethically permissible for the physician either to disclose material information to the affected party or to decline to provide care. In all cases involving the legal status or rights of the parties, referral to legal professionals is advised. This document replaces the document of the same name, last published in 2014 (Fertil Steril 2014;101:38-42).
Judith Daar, Jean Benward, Lee Collins, Joseph Davis, Owen Davis, Leslie Francis, Elena Gates, Elizabeth Ginsburg, Susan Gitlin, Sigal Klipstein, Laurence McCullough, Richard Paulson, Richard Reindollar, Ginny Ryan, Mark Sauer, Sean Tipton, Lynn Westphal, Julianne Zweifel, 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, Larry McCullough, L McCullough, Rick Paulson, Dick Paulson, Rich Paulson, R Paulson, Rick Reindollar, Dick Reindollar, Rich Reindollar, R Reindollar, G Ryan, M Sauer, S Tipton, L Westphal, J Zweifel
PMID 30396537 30396537 DOI 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.08.030 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.08.030 Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine et al. 2018, Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine 2018
Cite this article
Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2018). Misconduct in third-party assisted reproduction: an Ethics Committee opinion. Fertility and sterility. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.08.030
Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Misconduct in third-party assisted reproduction: an Ethics Committee opinion. Fertility and sterility. 2018. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.08.030
Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. "Misconduct in third-party assisted reproduction: an Ethics Committee opinion." Fertility and sterility, 2018.
Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 2017·Fertility and sterility
The use of adult intrafamilial gamete donors and gestational surrogates is generally ethically acceptable when all participants are fully informed and counseled, but consanguineous arrangements or ones that simulate incestuous unions should be prohibited. Adult child-to-parent arrangements require caution in order to avoid coercion, and parent-to-adult child arrangements are acceptable in limited situations. Programs that choose to participate in intrafamilial arrangements should be prepared to spend additional time counseling participants and ensuring that they have made free, informed decisions. This document replaces the document of the same name, last published in 2012 (Fertil Steril 2012;98:797-803).
Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 2016·Fertility and sterility
Medical providers have an ethical duty to disclose clinically significant errors involving gametes and embryos as soon as they are discovered. Clinics also should have written policies in place for reducing and disclosing errors. This document was reviewed and affirmed in 2015 and replaces the earlier document of the same name (Fertil Steril 2011;96:1312-4).
Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 2018·Fertility and sterility
Clinicians should encourage disclosure between intimate partners but must maintain confidentiality in cases where there is no prospect of harm to the partner and/or offspring. In cases where one member of a couple refuses to disclose relevant health information to the other partner and there exists a risk of harm to the unaware partner and/or offspring, clinicians may refuse to offer care and should decline to treat if full informed consent is not possible due to lack of disclosure.
Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 2018·Fertility and sterility
Intended parents engage with gestational carriers in an attempt to achieve their personal reproductive goals. All gestational carriers have a right to be fully informed of the risks as well as the contractual and legal aspects of the gestational-carrier process. Gestational carriers have autonomy in making their own decisions regarding medical care and should be free from undue influences by the stakeholders involved. They should have free access to and receive psychological evaluation and counseling before, during, and after participating. Gestational carriers require independent legal counsel regarding the execution of contracts. This document replaces the document of the same name, last published in 2013 (Fertil Steril 2013;99:1838-1841).