No decision on anonymity for six months

The UK Department of Health (DH) was expected to announce last week whether sperm donors are to lose their right to anonymity. Instead, Health Minister Hazel Blears announced at the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) annual conference that a decision would not be made for another six months.

Last year, the DH held a public consultation on what information ought to be provided to children born after donor assisted conception. The questions considered by the consultation paper asked whether regulations should specify what further information should be made available. The paper asked whether non-identifying information on existing donors should be provided on request and, for future donors, whether more comprehensive non-identifying information should be collected and made available, or whether identifying information should be provided.

While Hazel Blears said that there were plans to allow children conceived using donated sperm to find out more about the donors, including what they look like, their occupation and their interests', she said that further debate was required before a final decision on anonymity could be taken. She added 'we are especially concerned about the possible effect on donor numbers'. Proposed changes to the law will allow children conceived from donated sperm after 1990 to request the information, but no identifying information will be given. Any change would not affect children born before 1990.

Indication was also given that the DH was considering establishing a voluntary contact register, and a pilot scheme would be set up to assess the likely interest. Suzi Leather, chair of the HFEA, said 'we are disappointed that the government feel we can't move to an open system now but today's proposals are a step in the right direction'.