Counseling of donors
All prospective donors should be offered adequate counseling, but they are not obliged to accept it. All potential donors should be informed about all aspects of their treatment and the relevant psychological and ethical issues inherent in donating embryos. Donors should be comfortable with their decision and in donating their embryos they must renounce all right to them. There are several important points that might be discussed with the counselor.
- The woman who gave birth to the child is the mother of the child (HFEA Act) and the husband or partner is the father of the child.
- Until now, donors have remained anonymous. However, recent changes in the UK mean that children born as a result of donation provided by donors that registered from April 1st 2005 will be able to access information about the identity of their donor at the age of 18.
- The donor should be informed of the social, psychological and legal uncertainty and the risk that a birth may not occur.
- The embryo donor must accept that she may have a genetic offsprings whose existence or characteristics will not be disclosed.
- In the United Kingdom, The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is required by law to keep on its own register information about couples who donate embryos and couples who receive them.