A child at all costs: posthumous reproduction and the meaning of parenthood.
The creation of babies by assisted and collaborative techniques of reproduction, such as in-vitro fertilization or cryopreservation of gametes and embryos, stimulates strong emotions and fantasies about life, death, sexuality and immortality. Particularly, the cryopreservation of spermatozoa for post-mortem reproduction forces us to come to terms with the meaning of human reproduction, and the extent of individual rights to procreate using artificial means.
Aziza-Shuster
E
E
Ethics Program, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
D015925:Cryopreservation; D003643:Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting; D037022:Posthumous Conception; D012099:Reproductive Techniques / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012945:Social Values; D013094:Spermatozoa