Ethics Council urges end to anonymous egg and sperm donation

A 14-1 majority of Denmark’s Council of Ethics says anonymous egg and sperm donation should no longer be allowed, arguing that children should have a right to information about their genetic origins. DR reported the recommendation.

The council members said the child’s interests should carry particular weight because children cannot decide for themselves whether they consider donor conception ethically acceptable. They also noted that some donor-conceived people have a strong wish to know their donor’s identity.

Council chair Christine Nellemann said advances in DNA testing, online registries and social media have made it increasingly difficult for donors to remain anonymous. She said it could mislead donors to let them choose anonymity when there is a significant risk they may later be identified.

One member, Stefan Hermann, opposed the recommendation. He said anonymity should remain an option for parents and donors who want it, provided they understand it cannot be guaranteed. He argued that parents should be able to choose the kind of family they want to create and should decide how to tell their children about their origins.

All council members agreed that any change should not apply retroactively, to protect donors’ legal rights and parents who chose a donor on the understanding that the donation was anonymous.

They also agreed that, if anonymous donation is abolished, donors should be able to state what kind of relationship they would want with a donor-conceived child once the child is old enough to learn the donor’s identity. Donors should be able to change their preference later.

The Council of Ethics is presenting its recommendations at an event at Grand Teatret in Copenhagen and will submit them to politicians. It is up to politicians to decide whether to change the rules.