死后人工辅助生殖的推定同意规则研究——兼析(2021)闽01民终5544号案件

A Study on the Presumed Consent Rule for Posthumous Assisted Reproduction—With an Analysis of the Case (2021) Min 01 Min Zhong No. 5544

摘要: 随着现代医学的不断演进，辅助生殖技术已能够实现一种在自然生育条件下无法想象的生育形式——即在配子提供者一方去世后，利用其预先保存的遗传物质完成生育。这一突破性的生育场景，带来了大量未曾预见的伦理争议与法律挑战。现有法律虽然没有明确表明夫妻一方死亡后，在世一方是否可以单独决定进行人工辅助生殖，但基于响应现行国家生育政策出发，应当采取推定同意的规则，对此，最高人民法院作为司法机关已经表明了赞同这种推定的态度。此外，在理论上，基于对家庭血脉延续的考量、逝者生育自主意愿的尊重、在世配偶生育权的维护，以及未来出生子女潜在福祉的保障等多重价值的平衡，应当为死后人工生殖确立一种以推定同意为基础的法律默认立场。具体而言，只要生前未作出明确的反对表示，且无充分证据显示其可能拒绝，即应推定逝者对此持同意态度。

Abstract: With the continuous advancement of modern medicine, assisted reproductive technology has made possible a form of reproduction unimaginable under natural conception-completing the reproductive process using preserved genetic material from a deceased gamete provider. This groundbreaking reproductive scenario has given rise to a multitude of unforeseen ethical debates and legal challenges. While current law does not explicitly state whether a surviving spouse may unilaterally decide to undergo assisted reproduction after the death of their partner, from the perspective of responding to current national population policies, a rule of presumed consent should be adopted. On this matter, the Supreme People’s Court, as a judicial body, has already indicated support for this presumption. Moreover, in principle, based on the balance of multiple considerations-such as the need for family lineage continuity, respect for the reproductive autonomy of the deceased, protection of the surviving spouse’s reproductive rights, and safeguarding the potential welfare of future offspring-a legal default position grounded in presumed consent should be established for posthumous reproduction. Specifically, unless a clear objection was expressed during the deceased’s lifetime, or there is compelling evidence suggesting they would have refused, consent from the deceased should be presumed.