PMID: 11331622May 2, 2001Paper

Gamete donation and anonymity: should offspring from donated gametes continue to be denied knowledge of their origins and antecedents?

Human Reproduction
A McWhinnie

Abstract

This paper presents the case for a change from the current practice of anonymity and secrecy in the use of donated gametes in medically assisted conception. It does so by describing history of the practice, various committees of enquiry over the years, their recommendations for consideration of the children created and the need for follow-up of the outcome; presenting the evidence from outcome studies both about child development and family relationships where secrecy is maintained about the child's origin and those where the practice is openly to acknowledge their origins. This is followed by an analysis of the experience and views of these children once they are adults. In discussion of the composite findings recurring themes emerge. From this it is concluded that offspring from donated gametes should not continue to be denied knowledge of their origins and antecedents. In the public debate, four schools of thought are identified. Possible practical scenarios to implement change are discussed. This paper argues that the fundamental issue regarding any of these remains-that priority in decision-making should be the lifelong well-being of the children being created.

References

Jan 1, 1992·Law, Medicine & Health Care : a Publication of the American Society of Law & Medicine·B Lo
Jan 1, 1989·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines·M Rutter
May 1, 1994·Human Gene Therapy
Oct 1, 1993·Archives of Disease in Childhood·P D TurnpennyA M McWhinnie
Apr 1, 1996·Human Reproduction·K R DanielsG M Lewis
Apr 1, 1996·Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics·A McWhinnie
Mar 1, 1996·Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology·A Brewaeys
Aug 1, 1997·Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics·S C Klock
Feb 10, 1998·Human Reproduction·G Pennings
Jun 5, 1999·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines·S GolombokH Abdalla
Feb 23, 2000·Pediatric Nephrology : Journal of the International Pediatric Nephrology Association
Aug 1, 1993·Politics and the Life Sciences : the Journal of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences·Ken R Daniels, Karyn Taylor
Aug 1, 1993·Politics and the Life Sciences : the Journal of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences·Bartha Maria Knoppers
Feb 15, 2002·Human Fertility : Journal of the British Fertility Society·Alexina McWhinnie
Feb 15, 2002·Human Fertility : Journal of the British Fertility Society·Ian AirdUNKNOWN BFS Committee
Nov 1, 1990·Halsbury's Statutes of England·UNKNOWN Great Britain
Nov 1, 1955·Journal of Clinical Pathology·C HARVEY, M H JACKSON
Jan 13, 1945·British Medical Journal·M BartonB P Wiesner

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 6, 2005·Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics·Norbert Gleicher
Mar 24, 2004·Fertility and Sterility·UNKNOWN Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Sep 15, 2004·Fertility and Sterility·UNKNOWN Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Sep 24, 2004·Journal of Family Psychology : JFP : Journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43)·Susan GolombokRaoul Margara
Apr 6, 2013·The American Journal of Bioethics : AJOB·An Ravelingien, Guido Pennings
Apr 6, 2013·The American Journal of Bioethics : AJOB·Kimberly Leighton
May 29, 2002·Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology·Dorothy A Greenfeld
Jul 24, 2007·Archives of Disease in Childhood·Vic Larcher
Jan 17, 2015·Human Fertility : Journal of the British Fertility Society·Iolanda S RodinoSian Maslin-Prothero
Aug 15, 2014·Human Fertility : Journal of the British Fertility Society·Merryn Elizabeth Ekberg
Jun 3, 2011·European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology·Iori KisuYasunori Yoshimura
Dec 5, 2006·Fertility and Sterility·Kirstin Mac DougallRobert D Nachtigall
Nov 11, 2006·Fertility and Sterility·Patricia HershbergerRandall B Barnes
Jan 10, 2009·The Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology·Karin HammarbergAnnegien Mulder
Mar 13, 2013·Fertility and Sterility·UNKNOWN Ethics Committee of American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Apr 27, 2016·Journal of Bioethical Inquiry·Inez RaesGuido Pennings
Jun 25, 2016·Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology·Marja VisserMonique Mochtar
Jun 1, 2007·Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology·D van BerkelW H Pijffers
Jul 22, 2017·The New Bioethics : a Multidisciplinary Journal of Biotechnology and the Body·Oliver Hallich
Mar 15, 2018·Human Fertility : Journal of the British Fertility Society·Marja VisserMonique Mochtar
Dec 8, 2017·Biomedical Papers of the Medical Faculty of the University Palacký, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia·Tatana RumpikovaDavid Rumpik
Nov 9, 2004·The Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care·Sharon R Cohen
Mar 29, 2003·Human Fertility : Journal of the British Fertility Society·Julia Feast
Jan 21, 2017·Israel Journal of Health Policy Research·Vardit Ravitsky

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.