C
Confused_Fred
Guest
Here is our current law:
But this may change soon.
Its all to do with the rights of the child.
The courts are being ask if a "donor" is responsible for the needs of the child? Right now there a few cases going thru the courts arguing this point. One is being brought by a child of a "donor" who died in his 40's leaving a house, savings and pension plan. The man had no other family and the child is making a claim on this estate.
Another case is that of a man who wife couldn't have kids without an egg doner. The man's wife left him and now he's in financial difficulties. The "donor" is now being asked for child support in the UK. The child is now in care.
20 years ago both of these cases would have been thrown out, not even making it to court. For years the adoption laws have applied to children of IVF but these are now seen as "out of date".
The question for the courts is:
Who is a parent of an IVF child?
For me the whole point of having a child is to pass on DNA. I agree with the right of a child to know who both his parents are too. But....while people agree before the child is born using IVF to no contact and no support, the child as no say in the matter. And I feel children of IVF will make increasing numbers of claims ageist "donors" over the coming years.
And the courts are starting to take these claims seriously.
While those who have a child using IVF maybe over the moon, if they run out of money, they will run to the courts. If a child feels they may have had a better life with the "donor" they will run to the courts. If the child is born outside UK or to non UK citizens they may seek UK citizenship thru the courts.
While donating is a wonderful way to help people, it may come back and bite you in the ass. In America this is already happening. Until the UK cleans up this mess and brings in a new law, I'd warn anyone ageist donating sperm or eggs.
REMOVAL OF ANONYMITY
On the 1st of April 2005 a law came into effect with respect to sperm donation. Once donor-conceived people reach the age of 18 they are legally allowed to find out the identity of the sperm donor who donated to their parent(s). This ‘removal of anonymity’ law came about after studies carried out on adopted and donor-conceived children found that they benefitted emotionally from knowing who their biological parents were; regardless of whether they had any contact with them.
Sperm donors
If you donate sperm through a Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) licensed clinic, you will not:
- be the legal parent of any child born
- have any legal obligation to any child born
- have any rights over how the child will be brought up
- be asked to support the child financially
- be named on the birth certificate
But this may change soon.
Its all to do with the rights of the child.
The courts are being ask if a "donor" is responsible for the needs of the child? Right now there a few cases going thru the courts arguing this point. One is being brought by a child of a "donor" who died in his 40's leaving a house, savings and pension plan. The man had no other family and the child is making a claim on this estate.
Another case is that of a man who wife couldn't have kids without an egg doner. The man's wife left him and now he's in financial difficulties. The "donor" is now being asked for child support in the UK. The child is now in care.
20 years ago both of these cases would have been thrown out, not even making it to court. For years the adoption laws have applied to children of IVF but these are now seen as "out of date".
The question for the courts is:
Who is a parent of an IVF child?
For me the whole point of having a child is to pass on DNA. I agree with the right of a child to know who both his parents are too. But....while people agree before the child is born using IVF to no contact and no support, the child as no say in the matter. And I feel children of IVF will make increasing numbers of claims ageist "donors" over the coming years.
And the courts are starting to take these claims seriously.
While those who have a child using IVF maybe over the moon, if they run out of money, they will run to the courts. If a child feels they may have had a better life with the "donor" they will run to the courts. If the child is born outside UK or to non UK citizens they may seek UK citizenship thru the courts.
While donating is a wonderful way to help people, it may come back and bite you in the ass. In America this is already happening. Until the UK cleans up this mess and brings in a new law, I'd warn anyone ageist donating sperm or eggs.