On November 3, 2005, an article came out in New Scientist Magazine about a donor-conceived 15-year-old (my son) who located his donor/biological father via a commercial DNA test. He was the first to do this. Two weeks later the Washington Post also covered the story. It's stunning that all these years later, and with thousands now having done the same, every single vial of sperm and all eggs are still sold as anonymous, either for 18 years or forever.
Donor anonymity ended in 2005, but when will the sperm band egg vendors (yes, vendors, as they buy and then re-sell the gametes) acknowledge this and stop selling all gametes as anonymous?
Donor anonymity ended in 2005, but when will the sperm band egg vendors (yes, vendors, as they buy and then re-sell the gametes) acknowledge this and stop selling all gametes as anonymous?
- When will they acknowledge that these connections can be important to the donors and to the donor-conceived people, many of whom are younger than 18?
- When will they acknowledge that while there are many ways to make a family, that a very common way that all humans define family is those with whom you share a significant amount of genes?
- When will they acknowledge that knowing about one's ancestry and family medical history can be crucial to a person who is both under and over the age of 18?
The sperm banks, egg clinics, and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine as a whole act like this is something "new" and that they haven't had time to review the situation. I think 16 years is ample time to educate themselves on the situation and adjust accordingly.