Donated gametes in ART involve the use of gamete material from someone
besides a married partner (in a heterosexual marriage, I should add). It can
mean, for example, that a married couple have decided to use a sperm donor or
that a cohabiting lesbian couple will use donated sperm, or a single person will
use reproductive material from another person.
The use of artificial insemination with donated sperm (AID) is probably the oldest
of all ART and was first reported in the 1790s.
The key ethical issues are:
+ commodification
+ secrecy and confidentiality
+ impact on marriage as an institution
+ whether DG kids have a right to know the donors identity
Here are key points to take notes on as you work through the background
materials. Read two compact and concise articles debating whether
DG kids have a right to know their donors identity from Profs. Melo-Martin and
Ravitsky. what are your thoughts and burning issues about these two arguments? what questions can you ask?
