Children gain right to trace parents

People conceived from sperm, egg and embryo donations will be able
to find out the identity of their donor once they turn 18.

New government regulations announced last week will mean that
donors will not be able to stay anonymous. However donors will not
have any financial or legal obligations towards the child.

The new regulations, which are subject to parliamentary approval,
will only apply to people who donate after 1 April 2005.

Felicity Collier, chief executive of Baaf Adoption and Fostering,
said that parents who had used donated gametes to create their
families should be encouraged to be open and honest with their
children.

“People born in this way should have the same right to information
about their genetic parents, including the right to trace them,”
she said.