Australian sperm donors and identity law change
Sperm donors in Australia are protesting against a change in the law that means they can now be identified.Sperm donor anonymity
Sperm donors who donated years ago to clinics in return for a small cash payment are now concerned they will be contacted by the child produced with their donated sperm.
Michael Linden is one such man, he was 26 years old in 1977 when he went into a Melbourne fertility clinic and donated some of his sperm in return for a payment of $10.
"I should have known better, really,'' the 59-year-old retiree said. ''It was just a bit of a lark … They paid you $10, which was a little bit of money in those days.''
Sperm donor contact
However his opinion on the matter changed when in 2001 he was contacted by a young woman conceived using his sperm.
Donor law change
The law now allows the state government to request identifying information on donors. However the government has said that it does not affect anonymous donors who would still have to give their consent to be identified.
Donor children
In turns out that Mr Linden fathered 5 children, but only knows about two of them, and has only had contact with one.
However, despite his good relationship with his one known daughter Mr Linden is now against sperm donation because of the difficulties surrounding the issue.
Read more at: smh.co.au