Commissioner for Children says IVF donors should be known

Children’s Commissioner Mark Morrissey says children should have access to information about their genetic heritage in IVF donor cases.

Children’s Commissioner Mark Morrissey says children have a right to know about their genetic heritage in IVF donor cases.

CHILDREN conceived through donated eggs and sperm should have the right to know the secret identities of their donors, Tasmania’s advocate for children and young people says.

Children’s Commissioner Mark Morrissey has told an inquiry into donor conception practices that children should have access to information about their genetic heritage, regardless of whether or not past donors had consented to their identities being released.

“In my opinion, a child born of assisted reproductive treatment has a right to know and to have information [identifying and non-identifying] about their genetic heritage — regardless of the consent of the donor, and regardless of when the procedure in question occurred,” Mr Morrissey outlined in his submission to the parliamentary inquiry.

Mr Morrissey says “matters are complicated” when the assisted reproductive technology occurred when donor consent to release information was not required.

Since 2004, TasIVF has required all donors to consent to the release of identifying information when a child reaches 18. Before 2004, a number of donors voluntarily agreed to the release of their identity, but not all.

The Tasmanian Children’s Commissioner Mark Morrissey. Picture: KIM EISZELE

To manage the situation, Mr Morrissey says legislation should include provision for access to genetic information in a matter that is sensitive and supportive, possibly with the support of a counsellor. Mr Morrissey also points out that there is a distinction between access to identifying information and contact with a past donor.

He suggests legislation may be needed to include contact preferences available to the donor and the donor-conceived person.

In its submission to the inquiry, the Tasmanian Government supports voluntary identification of donors.

“There is recognition now that anonymous donation is not in the best interest of the donor-conceived person,” its submission says.

“Like many in the community, the Tasmanian Government supports in-principle the establishment of a voluntary register to facilitate and promote access to identifying or non-identifying information for donors and their donor-conceived offspring.”

The Government’s stance supports TasIVF, which wants to create a statewide voluntary register.

In its submission to the inquiry, Tas IVF says it does not support retrospective provision of identifying information on offspring or donors where consent was not given.

The Donor Conception Support Group told the inquiry Tasmania should follow the lead of Victoria, which this year enacted world-first legislation which gives all donor-conceived people the right to learn their donor’s identity without needing consent from the donor.

Hearings are continuing.

Originally published as Commissioner for Children says IVF donors should be known