Identifying Biological Fathers Removing Anonymity Could Reduce Sperm Donations
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Summary
Fertility treatment has brought joy to couples who could not otherwise have children. In many cases, the treatment involves donated gametes - sperm and eggs. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act of 1991 was introduced to protect the interests of donors, children born as a result of a donation and these children's legal parents. The government yesterday announced a wide-ranging review of the act to take account of changing times and attitudes. Probably the most controversial change under consideration is removing the right to anonymity of men and women who donate gametes. The debate has focused on sperm donation because it is easier and more common.
There is a balance to be struck between giving a child the right to find out about his or her biological father (if born as the result of a donation) and maintaining donations. The Human Embryology and Fertility Authority (HFEA) has a legal duty to tell adults if they were born as a result of treatment using donated gametes. They, in turn, have a right to find out if they could be related to someone whom they wanted to marry by establishing whether there is a genetic or blood relationship with the donor. But no information can be disclosed about the donor.See the full content of this document
Extract
Identifying Biological Fathers Removing Anonymity Could Reduce Sperm Donations
If the law is changed, children born after April 2005 will be able to fin...
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