Men could be able to donate their sperm after death

Men should be allowed to donate sperm alongside their organs and other body parts, after they have died, doctors have said.

There is currently a huge shortage of sperm donors in Britain, and the UK needs to import semen from countries such as Denmark, which ships around 3,000 samples each year and the US which sends 4,000.

Now, two doctors, writing in the Journal of Medical Ethics have called for men to be able to donate their sperm at death.

As well as helping with the shortage, they argue it would bring comfort to those who have not fathered children in their lives. It may also help ease the grief of family members if they think a loved one is ‘living on’ genetically.

Writing in the journal, Dr Nathan Hodson, of the College of Life Sciences at the University of Leicester, and Dr Joshua Parker, of Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, said “The ability to reproduce matters to people and donated sperm enables many people to fulfil their reproductive desires.

“Limitations in numbers and variety of donors have consequences for individuals and couples who require donor sperm.

“Many people hope that after death their bodies will be used to benefit others. It is both feasible and morally permissible for men to volunteer their sperm to be donated to strangers after death in order to ensure sufficient quantities of sperm with desired qualities.”

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