Gamete donation and anonymity: disclosure to children conceived with donor gametes should be optional

To force potential parents to tell their child of his/her genetic origin as a requirement for admission into an infertility programme is both wrong and discriminatory. In addition, comparing the practice of using donor gametes to conceive a child with adoption is incorrect for a number of reasons. In this article we make the argument that mandatory disclosure is both inappropriate and intrusive, and the presently available data do not justify a rigid position. Furthermore, no reasonable, practical system can be envisaged to guarantee compliance with mandatory disclosure. Although it is entirely reasonable at the time of consultation to encourage couples to consider their positions and obtain a mutual agreement on their future intent prior to treatment, the final decision on this should be a matter of free choice within the context of the couple's own value system.