Donor Conception, Secrecy, and the Search for Information

19(4) Journal of Law and Medicine 2012

20 Pages Posted: 9 Jul 2012

Date Written: June 8, 2012

Abstract

Donor conception has historically been shrouded in secrecy. Such secrecy has been underpinned by social views and legal issues concerning the adults involved in the process – the donor, the recipient parent(s), and, at times, the doctor. However, there is increasing recognition of the need to focus upon donor-conceived people’s interests and rights to have identifying and non-identifying information about their donors. This editorial examines issues raised in relation to information release, while also introducing some of the arguments presented by other authors in this Special Issue of the JLM. It also considers recent Australian federal and State government inquiries that have favoured information release and the former Victorian Infertility Treatment Authority’s service model to support people in the process of information access and release. While there has been a clear shift to favouring openness and honesty, legislative action is still required to ensure the balancing and realisation of people’s interests.

Keywords: assisted reproduction, donor conceived, identification, donor conception

Suggested Citation

Allan, Sonia, Donor Conception, Secrecy, and the Search for Information (June 8, 2012). 19(4) Journal of Law and Medicine 2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2102423 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2102423

Sonia Allan (Contact Author)

Deakin University ( email )

Deakin Law School
Burwood
Victoria, Victoria 3127
Australia

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