J Korean Med Assoc.  2018 Jul;61(7):383-391. 10.5124/jkma.2018.61.7.383.

Comparative analysis of medical, legal, and ethical considerations for establishing a standard operating protocol for artificial insemination by donor

• Park MJ

• KMID: 2416408
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2018.61.7.383

Abstract

Artificial insemination by donor is an important means of improving the likelihood of pregnancy in couples affected by male factor infertility, but it poses medical, legal, and ethical issues due to the involvement of third parties, such as the sperm donor. In Korea, the Bioethics and Safety Act was enacted for the purpose of preventing and eliminating unethical research on germ cells, and such research was limited to matters related to the use of assisted reproductive technologies, centering on embryos, oocytes, and protecting the health of oocyte donors. However, this law is incomplete in terms of specific standards or regulations relating to the donation and receipt of sperm. In Korea, artificial insemination by donor has been carried out without a standard operating protocol for donation and receipt of sperm, which would include testing sperm donors for diseases, limiting the number of donor offspring, compensation for donations, and the role of anonymity and non-anonymity. The diversity of policies worldwide shows that each country has its unique set of guidelines tailored for its own specific needs and practical considerations. Herein, I present a standard operating protocol of medical, legal, and ethical principles for artificial insemination by donor that is suitable for domestic circumstances, along with a comparison of recommendations and guidelines of other countries concerning sperm donation issues.

Keyword

Artificial insemination by donor; Male infertility; Sperm donation; Standard operation protocol

MeSH Terms

Anonyms and Pseudonyms
Bioethics
Compensation and Redress
Embryonic Structures
Ethics
Family Characteristics
Germ Cells
Humans
Infertility
Infertility, Male
Insemination, Artificial*
Jurisprudence
Korea
Male
Oocytes
Pregnancy
Reproductive Techniques, Assisted
Social Control, Formal
Spermatozoa
Tissue Donors*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Laws and ethics guidelines for artificial insemination by donor in each country. SOP, standard operating protocol. a)Score 5, guidelines by government; score 4, guidelines by public instrument; score 3, guidelines by academic institutions; score 2, guidelines by institutional review board; score 1, no regulation. b)Score 5, religious law; score 4; bioethics Law; score 3, organ transplant law; score 2, regulations of government; score 1, constitutional law.

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