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27 Med. & L. 131 (2008)
Access to Genetic Information by Donor Offspring and Donors: Medicine, Policy and Law in New Zealand

handle is hein.journals/mlv27 and id is 143 raw text is: Med Law (2008) 27:131-146 Medicine and Law CYOZMOT 2008 Bioethics and Human Rights ACCESS TO GENETIC INFORMATION BY DONOR OFFSPRING AND DONORS: MEDICINE, POLICY AND LAW IN NEW ZEALAND Ken Daniels,* and Alison Douglass** Abstract: The issues of persons conceived as a result of donated gametes having access to genetic information concerning their donor remains controversial. New Zealand enacted legislation in 2004 giving offspring the right to learn the identity of the donor when they had reached the age of 18. This legislation followed changes in professional practice, consumer decision making and community attitudes that had accepted the right of offspring to having access to the genetic information concerning the donor. The law, therefore, confirmed current practice, rather than facing change. The way in which medicine and policy have contributed to the widespread acceptance of this new legislation is explored, as is the legislation itself Four issues - the involvement of counsellors in ART teams, the impact of the consumer organization, the recognition of the cultural needs of the indigenous people and the impact of family law in New Zealand - that have contributed to this are explored, as are some of the issues that are now emerging as a result of this new legislation. Keywords: Genetic information; secrecy; gamete donation; medicine; law; policy; New Zealand. INTRODUCTION Fifteen years ago a British Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology stated in an informal discussion that what New Zealand was doing in relation to providing access to genetic information for those conceived as a result of donor * School of Social Work and Human Services, University of Canterbury. Christchurch, New Zealand ** Barrister and Solicitor, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago. Wellington, New Zealand 131

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