K man and his half-sister, both conceived through donor insemination (DI), are to challenge the law to try and obtain details of their biological fathers. Adam and Joanna Rose will claim that the current law banning sperm donor identification is in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights, which will be incorporated into UK law on 2 October.
The civil rights organisation Liberty is mounting the challenge on behalf of the Roses and several other adults conceived following donor insemination treatment at private infertility clinics. The group will argue that the UK law protecting the anonymity of sperm donors is a breach of article 8 of the forthcoming Human Rights Act: the right to respect for private and family life.
Liberty wants non-identifying donor information, such as blood group and medical history, to be provided automatically. It ould also like identifying information to be made available, but only with the donor's permission - identifying donors against their will would breach their privacy rights under the new act. Such a change in the law would put children born through donor insemination in the same position as adopted children.
Over 11,000 babies have been conceived using DI in the UK since 1991, when the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (HFEA) as passed. Under the HFE act, these children will be able to obtain some non-identifying information about their donor fathers once they reach the age of 18. But people conceived by donor insemination before 1991 do not currently share this right. According to the Independent newspaper, Government sources say ministers may agree to release details of sperm donors' medical histories and ethnic background, but ruled out the possibility of disclosing any identifying information.
Sources and References
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Offspring from artificial insemination demand fathers' details
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Bid to identify sperm donors
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Call to identify sperm donor in human rights test case
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Children to get details of sperm donor men
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