[Greens-Media] Donor children's rights on hold while O'Farrell dithers

[John Kaye]

Donor children's rights on hold while O'Farrell dithers

Media release: 5 May 2013

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has called for yet another inquiry while people
conceived from sperm or egg cell donation continue to be denied their
rights to know the identity of their biological parent, according to Greens
NSW MP John Kaye.

('Donor children kept in dark about origins', Sun Herald, 5 May, p. 13,
http://j.mp/102Qe0J)

Dr Kaye said: "Every person conceived by sperm or egg cell donation has a
fundamental right to know who the donor was.

"It is more than just a question of identity. Many individuals are
desperate to know where they came from.

"In some cases knowing the identity of the donor can assist in managing
health issues.

"It becomes a complex issue where the sperm or egg cell donation has been
made anonymously.

"However, there is an overwhelming case that privacy concerns are trumped
rights of the individual to know who donated the sperm that created their
life.

"The welfare of the child is paramount.

"For many individuals, it is a fundamental question of identity. For
others, it is a matter of predicting or managing health conditions.

"Last year a parliamentary inquiry found that an addendum to birth
certificates of children conceived from a donated cell should identify the
donor.

"The more difficult issue of conceptions that occurred before the 2010
change in the law should not be used as an excuse to hold up measures that
can provide important information to help children conceived since then,"
Dr Kaye said.

For more information: 0407 195 455


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John Kaye
Greens NSW MP
phone: 0407 195 455
web: www.john.nsw.greens.org.au
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