Egg and sperm donors could be tracked
The Australian government is considering launching a new registry to allow the tracking of both sperm and egg donors by those Australians conceived with their help.Proposed changes would also introduce a strict limit on the number of times a donor (egg or sperm donor) could donate.
The government estimates that at least 60,000 people in Australia have been conceived through egg donation and sperm donation. The registry would give the government a much more accurate figure.
In all there have been 32 recommendations, but a central registry is seen as the most important.
Donors and donor siblings
The registry would allow those conceived by donation to find out their donor, once they had reached 18.
However, donors would not be able to find children they had help to conceive through donation, unless those conceived gave their express permission.
Permission would also be required from siblings to allow them to be identified to their own donor-assisted half-siblings.
The committee tasked with investigating the matter heard emotional testimonies from those donor-conceived who wanted to find their other parent and siblings and not knowing who they were.
The committee also decided that the ban on commercial payment for sperm and embryos should continue. But that reasonable expenses for donations should continue as currently allowed.
Read the full story at: watoday.com.au