Assisted reproductive technology, justice and autonomy in an era of COVID-19

TY - JOUR

T1 - Assisted reproductive technology, justice and autonomy in an era of COVID-19

AU - Martins da Silva, Sarah J.

AU - Campo-Engelstein, Lisa

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2021/2

Y1 - 2021/2

N2 - Fertility services were significantly curtailed or suspended as an initial response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic earlier this year, following guidance from European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) as well as a General Direction (GD0014) issued by the Human Fertilisation and Embryo Authority (HFEA). It is difficult to argue with triage of medical care and resources in the face of anticipated overwhelming demand, but this situation resulted in considerable distress, as shown by a change.org petition opposing ASRM recommendations, which has gathered over 21,000 signatures to date. Although halting assisted reproductive technology (ART) as the pandemic unfolded was ethical because public health goals superseded individual patient autonomy, the fertility sector now faces a greater challenge balancing ethical considerations in an era characterized by the ongoing threat of COVID-19. This article discusses justice and autonomy in the context of ART, potential conflicts and resolutions.

AB - Fertility services were significantly curtailed or suspended as an initial response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic earlier this year, following guidance from European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) as well as a General Direction (GD0014) issued by the Human Fertilisation and Embryo Authority (HFEA). It is difficult to argue with triage of medical care and resources in the face of anticipated overwhelming demand, but this situation resulted in considerable distress, as shown by a change.org petition opposing ASRM recommendations, which has gathered over 21,000 signatures to date. Although halting assisted reproductive technology (ART) as the pandemic unfolded was ethical because public health goals superseded individual patient autonomy, the fertility sector now faces a greater challenge balancing ethical considerations in an era characterized by the ongoing threat of COVID-19. This article discusses justice and autonomy in the context of ART, potential conflicts and resolutions.

KW - Allostasis

KW - Amygdala-hippocampal complex

KW - Binge drinking

KW - RDoC

KW - Reward and loss events

KW - Striatum

U2 - 10.1016/j.rbmo.2020.11.004

DO - 10.1016/j.rbmo.2020.11.004

M3 - Comment/debate

C2 - 33279418

SN - 1472-6483

VL - 42

SP - 287

EP - 290

JO - Reproductive BioMedicine Online

JF - Reproductive BioMedicine Online

IS - 2

ER -