Ethical and legal issues of preserving childhood oncofertility
https://doi.org/10.21682/2311-1267-2024-11-3-60-65
Abstract
Providing a better quality of life for the children with cancer after recovery proves to be one and important aspect of rehabilitation. Preserving the fertility of children, adolescents and young adults can improve the chances to lead a full, active life, and have biological children after oncological treatment. It is necessary to consider that the degree of reproductive potential impairment as well as recovery perspectives can be assessed solely after the gonadotoxic therapy completion. Whereas fertility preservation practice proves to be more effective before the oncological treatment. The complexity of discussing with young patients and their parents (custodian parents) the risk of decrease or loss of reproductive function, of fertility preservation methods, of necessity to agree to another possible invasive intervention raises quite a range of ethical and legal problems, which claim special attention on behalf of doctors and patients’ protection.
About the Authors
O. E. LavrinovichRussian Federation
Cand. of Sci. (Med.), Research Associate of the Department of Oncogynecology, Head of the Laboratory of Oncofertility, Head of the Department of Minor Surgery at N.N. Petrov NMRCO.
68 Leningradskaya St., Pesochny, Saint Petersburg, 197758
A. P. Karitsky
Russian Federation
Cand. of Sci. (Med.), Deputy Director for Medical Work, ResearcherID: 338551.
68 Leningradskaya St., Pesochny, Saint Petersburg, 197758
Yu. A. Tatishcheva
Russian Federation
Cand. of Sci. (Biol.), Embryologis, ResearcherID: 120594.
68 Leningradskaya St., Pesochny, Saint Petersburg, 197758
S. A. Kulyova
Russian Federation
Dr. of Sci. (Med.), Professor, Head of Pediatric Oncology Department, Leading Researcher of the Research Department of Innovative Therapeutic Oncology and Rehabilitation Methods, Professor of the Training and Methodology Department N.N. Petrov NMRCO, Head of the Department of Oncology, Pediatric Oncology and Radiation Therapy at St. Petersburg SPMU.
68 Leningradskaya St., Pesochny, Saint Petersburg, 197758; 2 Litovskaya St., Saint Petersburg, 194100
References
1. Merabishvili V.M., Shakhzadova A.O., Kulyova S.A., Perelygin V.V. State of oncological care in Russia: age and cancer. Features of the localization structure, quality of accounting and survival of patients with malignant neoplasms among the child population and adolescents (clinical and population study). Part 1. Formuly Farmatsii = Pharmacy Formulas. 2023;5(1):20–32. (In Russ.).
2. Bhatia S., Tonorezos E.S., Landier W. Clinical Care for People Who Survive Childhood Cancer: A Review. JAMA. 2023;330(12):1175–86. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.16875.
3. Hudson M.M. Survivors of childhood cancer: coming of age. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2008;22(2):211–31, v–vi. doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2008.01.011.
4. Bjornard K., Close A., Burns K., Chavez J., Chow E.J., Meacham L.R. Fertility preservation in pediatric solid tumors: A report from the Children’s Oncology Group. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2024;71(6):e30960. doi: 10.1002/pbc.30960.
5. Children’s Oncology Group long-term follow-up guidelines for surviors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancers. Children’s Oncology Group. Accessed November 10, 2023. [Electronic resource]. URL: https://www.surviorshipguidelines.org.
6. Frederick N.N., Lehmann V., Ahler A., Carpenter K., Cherven B., Klosky J.L., Nahata L., Quinn G.P. Psychosexual functioning in cancer survivorship: What the pediatric oncologist needs to know. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2023;70 Suppl 5:e30611. doi: 10.1002/pbc.30611.
7. Marcell A.V., Burstein G.R.; COMMITTEE ON ADOLESCENCE. Sexual and reproductive health care services in the pediatric setting. Pediatrics. 2017;140(5):e20172858. doi: 10.1542/peds.2017-2858.
8. Carter J., Lacchetti C., Andersen B.L., Barton D.L., Bolte S., Damast S., Diefenbach M.A., DuHamel K., Florendo J., Ganz P.A., Goldfarb S., Hallmeyer S., Kushner D.M., Rowland J.H. Interventions to Address Sexual Problems in People With Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Adaptation of Cancer Care Ontario Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2018;36(5):492–511. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2017.75.8995.
9. Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Fertility preservation in patients undergoing gonadotoxic therapy or gonadectomy: a committee opinion. Fertil Steril. 2019;112(6):1022–33. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.09.013.
10. Duffin K., Neuhaus N., Andersen C.Y., Barraud-Lange V., Braye A., Eguizabal C., Feraille A., Ginsberg J.P., Gook D., Goossens E., Jahnukainen K., Jayasinghe Y., Keros V., Kliesch S., Lane S., Mulder C.L., Orwig K.E., van Pelt A.M.M., Poirot C., Rimmer M.P., Rives N., Sadri-Ardekani H., Safrai M., Schlatt S., Stukenborg J.B., van de Wetering M.D., Wyns C., Mitchell R.T. A 20-year overview of fertility preservation in boys: new insights gained through a comprehensive international survey. Hum Reprod Open. 2024;2024(2):hoae010. doi: 10.1093/hropen/hoae010.
11. United Nations General Assembly (1989). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Accessed February 7, 2022. [Electronic resource]. URL: https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/crc.aspx.
12. Bjornard K., Close A., Burns K., Chavez J., Chow E.J., Meacham L.R. Fertility preservation in pediatric solid tumors: A report from the Children’s Oncology Group. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2024;71(6):e30960. doi: 10.1002/pbc.30960.
13. Close A., Burns K., Bjornard K., Webb M., Chavez J., Chow E.J., Meacham L. Fertility preservation in pediatric leukemia and lymphoma: A report from the Children’s Oncology Group. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2023;70(8):e30407. doi: 10.1002/pbc.30407.
14. Официальный интернет-портал правовой информации. [Электронный ресурс]. URL: https://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001202007040001/.
15. Сommittee on bioethics. Informed Consent in Decision-Making in Pediatric Practice. Pediatrics. 2016;138(2):e20161484. doi: 10.1542/peds.2016-1484.
16. Klipstein S., Fallat M.E., Savelli S.; Сommittee on bioethics; section on hematology/oncology; section on surgery. Fertility Preservation for Pediatric and Adolescent Patients with Cancer: Medical and Ethical Considerations. Pediatrics. 2020;145(3):e20193994. doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-3994.
Review
For citations:
Lavrinovich O.E., Karitsky A.P., Tatishcheva Yu.A., Kulyova S.A. Ethical and legal issues of preserving childhood oncofertility. Russian Journal of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology. 2024;11(3):60-65. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21682/2311-1267-2024-11-3-60-65