Bioethics Programs, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Bioethics. 2019 Jan;33(1):82-90. doi: 10.1111/bioe.12491. Epub 2018 Aug 14.
In recent years, progress in cancer treatment has greatly increased the chances of recovery. Yet, treatment may have irreversible effects on patients' fertility. In order to protect future fertility, preservation of ovarian tissue may be offered today even to very young girls, involving a surgical procedure that may be performed by minimally invasive laparoscopy, under general anesthesia. However, in the tragic event of a girl's death, questions may arise regarding the possible use of the preserved ovarian tissue by her parents. Should posthumous reproductive use of ovarian tissue without the girl's prior consent (due to her young age) be considered a violation of her rights? On the other hand, can it be argued that it is in the interest of a child who died young to leave a genetic trace through posthumous reproduction, because genetic continuity is in the interest of every human being? After presenting the relevant clinical facts, we explore the ethical dimensions of this possible practice through an analysis of the interests of the deceased, her parents, and the child that may be born posthumously.
近年来，癌症治疗的进展大大提高了患者康复的机会。然而，治疗可能对患者的生育能力产生不可逆转的影响。为了保护未来的生育能力，即使是非常年轻的女孩，今天也可能提供卵巢组织保存，这涉及到一个手术过程，可以通过全身麻醉下的微创腹腔镜进行。然而，在女孩不幸去世的情况下，可能会出现关于其父母可能使用保存的卵巢组织的问题。未经女孩事先同意（由于她年龄较小）进行死后生殖性使用卵巢组织是否应被视为侵犯其权利？另一方面，是否可以认为，通过死后繁殖为早逝的孩子留下遗传痕迹符合其利益，因为遗传连续性符合每个人的利益？在介绍相关临床事实之后，我们通过分析死者、她的父母和可能死后出生的孩子的利益，探讨了这种可能做法的伦理维度。
