Amandeep Gill's Analysis: HFEA Consultation

On 23 August the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (the independent regulator for IVF treatment and embryo research) issued a statement inviting expressions of interest on how to tackle the shortage of sperm and eggs donated for IVF treatment in the UK. The Authority will hold a full public consultation into its donation policies and is currently researching the issues before deciding exactly which aspects to consult on.

The consultation comes amid reports of increasing numbers of childless couples turning to unlicensed web sites which offer to put them in touch with donors. Unlicensed arrangements such as these mean that sperm and egg donations are not screened and unlike arrangements regulated by the Authority mean that a sperm donor will be treated as the legal parent of the child conceived. For these purposes the sperm donor would have all of the legal rights and responsibilities of a parent including child maintenance obligations.  

Increasing numbers of childless couples are also...

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