Abstract: PD68-07
Sources of Funding: None

Introduction

Very few studies have addressed attitudes on posthumous sperm retrieval due to the ethical and legal ramifications of the use of gametes after death. We evaluated the presence and content of a policy on posthumous sperm retrieval at the 75 major academic medical centers in the U.S.

Methods

We surveyed the 75 major academic medical centers as ranked for research in 2016 by U.S. News & World Report using a questionnaire based telephone/web survey. We gathered data on presence and content of posthumous sperm retrieval policies. If not published, we contacted the legal counsel for the medical center, the ethics and compliance offices, the Urology Department, as well as the infertility center for each institution, in that order.

Results

Out of the 75 major academic medical centers, we gathered data on posthumous sperm retrieval from 25 (33.3%). Of the 25 institutions, nine (36%) had policies regarding posthumous sperm retrieval, fifteen (60%) did not have a policy, and one center remained undisclosed. Five of the fifteen medical centers without policies have discussed development of a policy but did not formalize it due to lack of legal guidance as a barrier to policy adoption. Out of the nine centers that had a policy, four required prior written consent, while five allowed for verbal or inferred consent from the surviving life partner.

Conclusions

Very few, about 1/3, of the surveyed academic medical centers have policies on posthumous sperm retrieval. Medical centers can adopt individualized policies based on guidelines published by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Funding

None