Sperm can be taken from the dead, say scientists

DOCTORS should be able to take sperm from men after they die if they had consented, say academics.

They claim the move would help plug UK shortages and boost choice for families.

And it would help alleviate the misery of would-be parents struggling to access donor sperm.

Dr Nathan Hodson, of the University of Leicester, and Joshua Parker, of Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester, wrote: “It is both feasible and morally permissible for men to volunteer their sperm to be donated after death in order to ensure sufficient quantities.”

The UK relies on importing from sperm banks in order to meet increasing demand, the article says.

The authors argue that posthumous donations should be viewed on a par with life-enhancing procedures such as corneal transplants.

The sperm could be extracted after death surgically and then frozen until required.

The boffins say increasing the donor pool could also boost the variety of sperm, allowing families more chance of getting preferred characteristics.

This could involve matching the race of the donor to the parents.

Posthumous sperm donation could also encourage men who are currently reluctant because they fear the loss of their anonymity.

And family members may take comfort in knowing their loved one helped others after their death and that they live on in some way.

The authors acknowledge concerns that health issues experienced by the donor may be passed to the child via genes.

They say that this could be minimised by screening donors and sperm – safeguards now in place with living donors.

The analysis is published in the Journal of Medical Ethics.