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Fertility and sterility, 2016

Provision of fertility services for women at increased risk of complications during fertility treatment or pregnancy: an Ethics Committee opinion

Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine

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

DOI 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.08.015 PMID 27530060

Abstract

This opinion addresses the ethics of providing fertility treatment to women at elevated risk from fertility treatment or pregnancy. Providers ethically may treat women at elevated risk provided that they are carefully assessed; that specialists in their medical condition are consulted as appropriate; and that patients are fully informed about risks, benefits, and alternatives, including oocyte and embryo donation, use of a gestational surrogate, not undergoing fertility care, and adoption. Providers also may conclude that the risks are too high for them to treat particular patients ethically; such determinations must be made in a medically objective and unbiased manner and patients must be fully informed of the decision. Counseling of women who wish to initiate fertility treatment with underlying medical conditions that confer increased risk during treatment or pregnancy should incorporate the most current knowledge available, being cognizant of the woman's personal determinants in relation to her reproductive desires. In such a way, both physician and patient will optimize decision making in an ethically sound, patient-supportive context.

Topics

Clinical Guidelines and Standards
Guidelines by Issuing BodyUnited States Professional Societies
Ethics and Policy
Reproductive EthicsART Ethics
Judith Daar, Jean Benward, Lee Rubin Collins, Joseph Davis, Leslie Francis, Elena Gates, Elizabeth Ginsburg, Barbara Koenig, Andrew La Barbera, Laurence McCullough, Richard Reindollar, Mark Sauer, Sigal Klipstein, Rebecca Sokol, Sean Tipton, Lynn Westphal, 0000-0003-0284-2845
J Daar, J Benward, L Collins, Joe Davis, Joey Davis, J Davis, L Francis, E Gates, Liz Ginsburg, Beth Ginsburg, Betsy Ginsburg, E Ginsburg, Barb Koenig, B Koenig, Andy Barbera, Drew Barbera, A Barbera, Larry McCullough, L McCullough, Rick Reindollar, Dick Reindollar, Rich Reindollar, R Reindollar, M Sauer, S Klipstein, Becky Sokol, R Sokol, S Tipton, L Westphal
PMID 27530060 27530060 DOI 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.08.015 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.08.015 Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine et al. 2016, Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine 2016

Cite this article

Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2016). Provision of fertility services for women at increased risk of complications during fertility treatment or pregnancy: an Ethics Committee opinion. Fertility and sterility. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.08.015

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