This past January, Ryan and I met with our congressman’s office to discuss possible
regulation for the reproductive medicine industry. He wrote us back this week
saying that he, “is interested in looking into ensuring that all donor-conceived
children have the right to know their biological parents when they turn 18.” And
then he said, “If a guarantee like this were to be established at the federal
level, is this something you would support?”
Um….YES!!!!
So I would like to gather input from families on why this type of
legislation would be important for donor offspring, their parents, and also for
donors. As we all know, many other countries have passed this type of
legislation, and we have always felt that it would also inevitable in this
country, as soon as the question “what is in the best interests of the child to
be born” was asked and debated publicly.
Would people email me their thoughts on a child’s right to know
their genetic, ancestral and medical backgrounds? And what about the age of 18?
(I know for my son, a much younger age would have been much more appropriate.)
Anyone care to tell their stories of connecting? Or their perspectives on
desiring contact with their unknown genetic family? Is it fair to bring a child
into the world who will have no chance of knowing about one half of their their
ancestry, their genetics or their medical backgrounds? Is it an innate human
desire to want to know where we come from, and should donor children have that
right? Should egg and sperm donors be properly educated and counseled about
what being an open donor really means?