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Monday, 11 November, 2002, 08:23 GMT
Who am I? - comments
Who am I?. Thank you for sending us your comments. They will be published here and updated throughout the week.
The whole issue re sperm donors is akin to the human rights issue relating to adoptees - of which I am one of many -adopted in England as a baby in '62, when anonymity was very much in favour of protecting the adoptive parents, rather than adoptee or birth mother. The change in law in 1975, allowing adoptees the right to access their true (mainly maternal) - identity was made retrospectively, in recognition of the right for such children to find answers to the universal 'Who am I?' question. People like Bill and myself, though physically unchained, etc, are never-the-less bound to laws which deny our right to what most people take for granted - that of knowing who we really are. Sarah, UK
Vicky, England
The psychological trauma these people go through must be horrendous. I dread to think what it must be like. Would you like to feel the way those people portrayed on your excellent programme. There are only two answers, yes or no. Mine? An emphatic no!
I must take issue with one of the terms used in the programme. I don't believe that anybody who visits a clinic several times a week to masturbate and then get paid $50 or so for the product can be called a donor. He is a party to a commercial transaction and is therefore a seller. I think such misuse of terminology devalues the altruistic act of giving blood, bone marrow and body organs which we in the UK regard as donation, and equally devalues the donors.
This is such a complex matter and difficult to understand. However some questions might help to resolve thoughts. Are our egg cells and sperm our property to do with as we wish? And with reference to The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) Article 16 (3) which says that "The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State". What is the definition of family in relation to sperm donation? Since in (a) of the same article the founding of family is linked to marriage?!
Gabrielle Ainsley, UK
I am a 58 year old man and have been married for 30 years and have two daughters in their twenties. Both are well adjusted women who were conceived by AID as I am infertile. I have not told my children that they are not from my sperm yet they are my children. It would be damaging for them to discover I am not there father. I have discussed this with my wife and we will not tell them as it's far too late. I have no doubt that my children would be shocked to discover this. I wonder if it would be different now. I think it would.
Consumer or donor rights are based upon business principles. These pale to insignificance against a straightforward infringement of human rights which is to be denied knowledge of your paternity. It is this sort of highly dubious conduct by businesses, supported by government legislation, or lack of, which creates instant victims of society. It should be outlawed now!!
I think keeping sperm donators secret is appalling, worse than being adopted as at least then you may have some chance of finding your biological parents. The sense of feeling part of you is missing, lack of knowledge of possible genetic illnesses and psychological heartache caused can not be measured.
Excellent documentary; very well balanced, and sympathetic to all involved. Intensely moving for anyone who has missed a parent, for whatever reason.
I honestly feel that there are too many un-adopted children out there for there to be any sort of Donor business at all; still it was heartening to see that, in California at least, the less money obsessed are the most pioneering.
Disclaimer: The BBC will put up as many of your comments as possible but we cannot guarantee that all e-mails will be published. The BBC reserves the right to edit comments that are published.
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What is the definition of family in relation to sperm donation?
