title: Ethics of intracytoplasmic sperm injection: proceed with care.
abstract: The religious and feminist objections to the new reproductive technologies in general and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in particular are not convincing. The risks and uncertainties associated with ICSI constitute a compelling reason to subject clinical ICSI with ejaculated spermatozoa to strict conditions and are a good reason to suspend clinical microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration and testicular sperm extraction, pending the results of animal research. The categorical objections to 'coercively' offering genetic testing to males/couples applying for ICSI are not convincing in view of the doctors' own responsibility to avoid serious harm to the future children. At the same time, a further debate on the harm-probability ratio to be used for such testing and for limiting access to ICSI is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Bioethics, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: de Wert
mesh_terms: D002835:Christianity; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D019513:Feminism; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D012449:Safety; D013094:Spermatozoa