Misconduct in third-party assisted reproductive technology by participants and nonmedical professionals or entities: an Ethics Committee opinion

Abstract

Physicians involved in third-party assisted reproductive technology arrangements who discover material misconduct or other undisclosed information by a party to the arrangement (such as a gamete or embryo donor, gestational carrier, or intended parent) or by a nonmedical professional participant or entity (such as a recruiting program, gamete or embryo bank, or lawyer) should encourage that party or professional participant to disclose such misconduct or information. In some instances, it is ethically permissible for the physician to either disclose material information to the affected party or to decline to provide or continue to provide care. In all cases involving the legal status or rights of the parties, physicians should recommend that patients seek independent legal professional advice. This document replaces the document "Misconduct in third-party assisted reproduction," last published in 2018. The use of a physician's own gametes for the purpose of reproduction without the informed consent of the recipient(s) is unethical and illegal, as well as never permissible.