The importance of genes for persons conceived with donor gametes. A focus group study.

Although it is reasonable to accept that those parents who are not genetically linked to their children have equal parental status and rights and obligations as those who share their genes with their children, the meaning of the genetic contribution for the resulting children is less straightforward. A practice in which the importance of the genetic link for offspring has been much discussed in the media recently is that of artificial reproduction, through artificial insemination or IVF, with donor gametes or embryos. However, a systematic study of values and opinions of donor conceived children is missing. The aim of this study is to investigate how do persons conceived through artificial reproduction techniques (ART) using donor gametes think about parenthood and the importance of genes, by means of focus groups. An evaluation of the role and significance of genetics and biology in relation to parenthood has important consequences for the way we conceive parenthood in philosophy and law, as it may, by reevaluating what makes one a parent, put into question the often deployed distinction between 'biological' and 'social' parenthood. With this study we want to add to the ongoing debate on parenthood, genetics and biology by interviewing those who are acutely confronted with such questions in their lives, the children that have been conceived through artificial reproduction with donor gametes. We aim to map opinions and lived experiences of donor conceived adults, as a first effort to elucidate on a more conceptual level the meaning of genetics and biology in the context of parenthood and kinship. On the basis of this mapping, a philosophical analysis of ethical and legal implications of anonymous vs. non-anonymous sperm donation could be fruitfully developed.

Keywords:PARENTHOOD, REPRODUCTION, DONOR POLICY, GENES

Disciplines:Theory and methodology of philosophy, Philosophy, Other philosophy, ethics and religious studies not elsewhere classified