Editorial
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Med Genet. Feb 27, 2012; 2(1): 1-8
Published online Feb 27, 2012. doi: 10.5496/wjmg.v2.i1.1
Evolving ethical issues in third party reproduction: Local and global considerations
Ilana B Ressler, Ami S Jaeger, Steven R Lindheim
Ilana B Ressler, Steven R Lindheim, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Center for Reproductive Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, United States
Ami S Jaeger, BioLaw Ethics Institute, 7 Avenida Vista Grande, 205 Santa Fe, NM 87508, United States
Author contributions: Lindheim SR, Ressler IB and Jaeger AS contributed substantially to the conception and design, assisted with the article’s drafting and critical revisions, and approved this final version for publication.
Correspondence to: Steven R Lindheim, MD, MMM, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Center for Reproductive Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 2123 Auburn Avenue, Suite A-44, Cincinnati, OH 45219, United States. steven.lindheim@uc.edu
Telephone: +1-513-5852355 Fax: +1-513-5853098
Received: November 11, 2011
Revised: February 24, 2012
Accepted: February 26, 2012
Published online: February 27, 2012
Abstract

There continues to be an increase in utilization of assisted reproductive technology (ART), including the use of third party gametes. Specifically, the use of third party oocytes, most recently reported in 2010 by the United States (US) Center for Disease Control and Society of Reproductive Medicine, accounted for 15 504 cycles and 7334 live births. This translates into approximately 11% of all the in vitro fertilization cases performed in the US. As utilization increases and the technological tools advance, they have created underappreciated and unforeseen ethical quandaries. As such, many practitioners think they “have heard it all”. However, each ART scenario is novel with the potential to pose complex unforeseen issues, potentially creating global challenges that could impact broad social and legal questions and test the moral consciousness’ of practitioners, policymakers and patients. While there are published US national guidelines to assist practitioners, we have identified new complex issues in assisted reproduction that present unique challenges, and we give a perspective from our eyes in the Western Hemisphere looking out to a global level. Specifically, this review focuses on some of the more recent and evolving issues that currently are and will be confronting us in the upcoming years. Particular attention focuses on discrepancies between third party legal contracts and ART consents regarding level of information sharing, and oocyte and embryo directives and management; dilemmas and obligations surrounding disclosure of medical outcomes especially in the context of growing access to Direct to Consumer genetic testing and Reproductive Tourism-Exile. Given the complexity of these and other ethical questions, finding answers may be achieved by ending the isolation of reproductive professionals and instead promoting increased and consistent communication among physicians, embryologists, therapists and reproductive attorneys to confront these evolving ethical quandaries.

Keywords: Third party reproduction; Oocyte donation; Ethics