British Parliamentary Committee Proposes Noting On Birth Certificates Whether Children Were Conceived With Egg, Sperm Donation

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Fertility
Article Date: 06 Aug 2007 - 18:00 PDT

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A group of British lawmakers on Tuesday during a review of the United Kingdom's Human Tissues and Embryos Bill proposed requiring that birth certificates indicate if a child was born by egg or sperm donation, London's Times reports.

Currently, people in the United Kingdom at age 18 can view a register to find out whether they were donor-conceived, and children who were donor-conceived after April 2005 will be able to obtain identities of their biological parents (Henderson, Times, 8/1). However, no current laws "automatically" assist individuals whose parents conceal that they were conceived through egg or sperm donation, the PA/Channel4.com reports (Von Radowitz, PA/Channel4.com, 7/31).

The group of lawmakers -- a joint, multiparty committee of members of the U.K. House of Commons and House of Lords -- said that many people do not consider checking the registry because they do not question their origins, adding that a birth certificate requirement is the only way to guarantee individuals the right to know if they were born through egg or sperm donation.

According to the Times, the committee said it did not recommend requiring parents to tell their children if they are donor-conceived because it would be unenforceable (Times, 8/1). The committee also called for other changes to the country's fertility laws, the BBC News reports (BBC News, 8/1).

Reaction
Phil Willis -- chair of the committee and a member of Parliament from the Liberal Democrat Party -- said the government "should not be complicit in what in fact would be a lie regarding the origins of where a child actually came from," adding, "The principle is that we believe children have a right to know" (Times, 8/1). However, Evan Harris, science spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, said the proposal is a "bizarre and intrusive solution to a problem that has never been demonstrated to exist."

Vivienne Nathanson, head of science at the British Medical Association, said that although it is important that parents receive assistance in telling children they were conceived with donated eggs or sperm, listing the information on birth certificates "means that the child may find out unexpectedly and far too young." Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said the government will "study" the report and "respond ... in due course" (BBC News, 8/1).

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