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Human Reproduction, Vol. 16, No. 1, 188-193, January 2001
© 2001 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Gaining consent to freeze spermatozoa from adolescents with cancer: legal, ethical and practical aspects

G. Bahadur1,5, J. Whelan2, D. Ralph3 and P. Hindmarsh4

1 University College London and UCLH Trust, 2 The Meyerstein Institute of Oncology, Middlesex Hospital, UCLH Trust, 3 The Middlesex Hospital, The Institute of Urology & Nephrology (St Peter's Hospital) and 4 Department of Medicine, Paediatric Endocrinology Division, Middlesex Hospital, London, UK

Sperm banking for early adolescent cancer patients requires delicate, sensitive handling and, in the UK, consideration is required of statutory elements. No information at present exists about how adolescents with cancer are normally treated or counselled for sperm banking. Here we highlight the type of issues in relation to fertility preservation faced by clinicians and those faced by adolescents at a sperm storage laboratory. We explore the very real difficulties of bringing together these medical fields of assisted reproduction, oncology and the various pieces of legislation and focus specifically on gaining consent. Attention is paid to counselling and communication to help the patient reach an effective and informed decision to store spermatozoa. The role of parents in contributing towards communication and support, together with the legal constraints in decision making, is acknowledged. How absolute and fully `informed' consent should be will always remain a contentious issue amongst the various specialists and disciplines. In relation to sperm storage, as a minimum the patients should understand the process that they are undertaking so that it is undertaken freely and without pressure. The practical approach to gaining consent that we are using seems a logical and practical method to help early adolescent patients to store spermatozoa.

Key words: adolescent/cancer/consent/sperm banking

5 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: University College London and UCLH Trust, Fertility & Reproductive Medicine Laboratories, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 86–96 Chenies Mews, London WCIE 6HX, UK.


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