March 29, 2024

More changes to donor law considered in NSW

The State government New South Wales is considering tightening rules regulating embryo donation

The State government New South Wales is considering tightening rules regulating embryo donation after a woman who received donor eggs allegedly lied to doctors and the embryo donor about the fate of her pregnancy.  

The donor recipient, who has remained unidentified by the media, received embryos from Mrs. Natalie Parker in late 2014. The woman and her partner agreed to stay in contact with Parker once the baby was born. Yet late last year the donor recepient contacted Parker over the phone saying that implantation had failed.

Parker was suspicious of the woman, and tracked her down via Facebook. She discovered that the woman had indeed given birth to a child, and the child looked strikingly like Parker’s own children. Parker feels certain that that the child is hers, though IVF Australia are still investigating the matter. “I feel taken advantage of, and incredibly sad”, Parker said.

NSW health minister Jillian Skinner said that authorities are considering whether they should further strengthen donor law in the state. “A case made public [on Sunday] raises issues which the NSW Ministry of Health will look into to determine if any further strengthening is required,” Ms Skinner said. Late last month the State Government considered new legislation that will give all donor conceived children the opportunity to access limited identifying information about their fathers. The proposed bill was narrowly defeated. 

More changes to donor law considered in NSW
Xavier Symons
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Creative commons
https://www.bioedge.org/images/2008images/embryo_donor.jpg
Australia
donor anonymity
embryo donation
law