Information sharing in donor conception: comparing regulations, ethics and cultural practices in the UK and Belgium
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Abstract
Within the context of donor conception, the significance of knowing about one’s genetic origins and the moral and legal status of this information has been the subject of on-going and vociferous debate in a number of Western countries. Ten years on from the removal of donor anonymity in the UK, this paper considers the significance of donor identification law and its relationship to social practices in the UK and Belgium. Despite a similar liberal attitude towards medically assisted reproduction, the UK and Belgium have adopted significantly divergent measures on the issue of donor anonymity. In this paper we describe these regulatory differences and consider the perceptions and experiences of donor identification in each country by contrasting the findings of studies relating to donor conception. We conclude by arguing that greater attention should be given to the complex interplay between legal frameworks and social practices relating to gamete donation and highlight the need for more detailed future research to inform policy-making in assisted reproduction.