Coma Husband's Sperm: Wife Seeks Court's Permission

A woman has approached the Delhi High Court with a plea to conceive a child using her husband's sperm. Her husband has been in a coma and on life support since March 2026, in a persistent vegetative state.

The wife's legal representative has urged the court to allow the preservation of a sperm sample, emphasizing that delay could render it non-viable. The court is considering the formation of a medical board to assess the feasibility and safety of sperm retrieval given the husband's critical condition.

This case highlights a significant legal hurdle: current regulations require mutual spousal consent for sperm usage, established in 2021. The legal debate centers on applying these rules when one spouse is medically incapacitated and unable to provide consent.

While posthumous sperm collection is possible with prior authorization, the situation of a living patient in a vegetative state presents complex ethical and medical science questions. The matter is scheduled for a hearing on April 9, with the Central Government's counsel noting the case is under careful examination.