Abstract

IVF cycles often produce supernumerary cryopreserved embryos, which may be unused when a patient or couple decides against pursuing additional fertility attempts. In cases where the patient or couple has not provided instructions regarding embryo disposition and is unreachable after reasonable efforts by the clinic, the embryos are considered “abandoned.” This chapter focuses on the ethical issues that ART clinics face related to the disposition of abandoned cryopreserved embryos that are kept in storage. Key ethical principles include: (1) autonomy of the individual(s) who provided the gametes to determine the fate of the embryos, (2) justice and the high cost of embryo storage fees which impact dispositional decisions, (3) the obligation to respect the conceptualization of embryos by an individual or couple when discussing the disposal of embryos and (4) the need for caution against the assumption that all abandoned embryos are undesired. To avoid situations where embryos are abandoned, clinics should require that patients specify their preferences for future embryo disposition, including in the case of loss of contact between patients and the clinic.