Posthumous collection and use of reproductive tissue: a committee opinion.

Posthumous gamete (sperm or oocyte) procurement and reproduction are ethically justifiable if written documentation from the deceased authorizing the procedure is available. In the absence of written documentation from the decedent, programs open to considering requests for posthumous gamete procurement or reproduction should only do so when such requests are initiated by the surviving spouse or life partner. This document replaces the ASRM Ethics Committee report, "Posthumous reproduction," published in September 2004 (Fertil Steril 2004;82[Suppl 1]:S260-2).