I've just been reading an interesting piece in the New York Times which compares the complicated process people face when adopting a child with the ease with which donor sperm and eggs can be purchased in the States. During adoption, the interests of the child are always paramount, as they should be, but with donor conception, the interests of the prospective parents may seem to lead the way.
Columnist Ross Douthat discusses a study of donor conceived adults which showed that many of them felt some unease about their conception, often because money had changed hands. Unlike the UK, donation in the States is not only paid but can also be anonymous. Although getting rid of anonymity in the UK was initially seen to have reduced the donor pool and created longer waits for donor treatment, it is likely that in the long run it will reduce the potential problems of donor conception making it possible to trace a donor parent.
You can read the article at www.nytimes.com
Showing posts with label sperm donation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sperm donation. Show all posts
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
Fraudulent online donor services
Anyone considering using an online sperm donor service should be warned by the conviction of the founder of one such company for fraud and financial misconduct.
The company was offering fresh sperm, delivered to your door, and claimed to have had around 5,000 customers. However, the very fact that they were offering fresh rather than frozen sperm rang alarm bells for experts, as it suggested they couldn't be carrying out proper screening and checks on the samples they were offering.
Now it has emerged that behind the scenes money was being siphoned off, whilst the company was claiming to be pursuing a mission to help women get pregnant. According to reports, customers had reported problems such as samples being delivered by minicab, or in one case in a dirty coffee flask, and employees claimed people were not always sent sperm samples from donors with the physical characteristics they'd requested.
Finding a sperm donor through a reputable clinic may take more time, but the safeguards that are in place will ensure you know your donor has been properly screened and that the sample they have provided is safe.
You can read more about the case here
The company was offering fresh sperm, delivered to your door, and claimed to have had around 5,000 customers. However, the very fact that they were offering fresh rather than frozen sperm rang alarm bells for experts, as it suggested they couldn't be carrying out proper screening and checks on the samples they were offering.
Now it has emerged that behind the scenes money was being siphoned off, whilst the company was claiming to be pursuing a mission to help women get pregnant. According to reports, customers had reported problems such as samples being delivered by minicab, or in one case in a dirty coffee flask, and employees claimed people were not always sent sperm samples from donors with the physical characteristics they'd requested.
Finding a sperm donor through a reputable clinic may take more time, but the safeguards that are in place will ensure you know your donor has been properly screened and that the sample they have provided is safe.
You can read more about the case here
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)