Human Reproduction, Vol. 15, No. 3, 508-514,
March 2000
© 2000 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Opinions |
The right to choose your donor: a step towards commercialization or a step towards empowering the patient?
Department of Philosophy, Pleinlaan 2, Lok. 5 C 442, Free University Brussels, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
The practice of gamete donation differs greatly from centre to centre and from country to country. One would have a hard time finding a guideline in the procedure which is exactly the same in all countries of the European Community. The guidelines common to all countries are the hardest to question since they are part of the background and, as such, do not attract our attention. One such guideline is that recipients do not choose their own donor. This clashes with the practice in the USA where it is relatively common to give women the possibility to select their own donor. The discrepancy in policies merits serious scrutiny. What arguments can be brought against a woman who wants to pick her own donor? This article analyses the pros and cons of that policy.
In a large number of sperm banks in the USA, women receive a catalogue with all the
Matching with the partner and the desire for secrecy
Lesbians and single women
Criteria used by the recipients when offered the choice
Arguments against the right to choose the donor
A child on command
Commercialization
Positive eugenics
Discrimination
Paternalism
Jeopardizing the anonymity of the donor
Advantages of the right to choose the donor
Autonomy of the recipient
Experience of the transaction
Reducing anxiety
Information to the child
Conclusions
Notes
References