The ethical allocation of gametes donated for the purpose of fertility treatment
Investigator: Dr Simon Jenkins (Arts and Humanities Research Council Collaborative Doctoral Studentship 2010 – 2013)
Supervisors: Professor Heather Draper (lead & grant holder), Dr Jonathan Ives & Dr Sue Avery
The demand for human gametes donated for reproductive purposes exceeds supply. Currently, clinics make their own decisions about who to accept onto waiting lists for donated sperm and eggs, and how to allocate these to those who are waiting. This project combined qualitative data with philosophical analysis to determine the allocation criteria that are currently being used by clinics in the UK, and to establish guidelines for which criteria ought to be used inthe future.
Further Information
For more information about this research, please feel free to contact us:
Heather Draper – H dot Draper at warwick dot ac dot uk +44 (0)2476 150347
Simon Jenkins – s dot jenkins dot 4 at warwick dot ac dot uk +44 (0)2476 575851
Publication from this project
Jenkins, S. Ives, J., Avery, S., Draper, H. Who gets and gametes? An argument for a points system for fertility patients. Bioethics 2018 32: 16-26 (Open Access)
This research was funded by an Arts and Humanities Research Council Collaborative Doctoral Studentship (in collaboration with the Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women’s Hospital).
Each year the AHRC provides funding from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities. Only applications of the highest quality are funded and the range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK. For further information on the AHRC, please go to: