Expert welcomes committee's call to help donor conceived

Deakin University's expert in donor conception Dr Sonia Allan has welcomed the Victorian Law Reform Committee's recommendations to Government that everyone conceived through sperm donations should know the identity of their biological parent, whether or not the donor wants to remain anonymous.

"I think the report is fantastic," Dr Allan said from the United States where she is currently working as Global Health Law Fellow at Georgetown University Law Center.

"It is so thoughtful and considerate of all parties."

Dr Allan said the report takes the position that there are donor conceived people who are suffering, and they deserve access to information.

"The Committee has accepted that donors who do not want contact may place a contact veto," she said.

"The contact veto system is modelled on the release of information to adoptees used in some states which protect privacy whilst recognising how very important access to information about ones heritage may be.

"It's a world first -- once again, Victoria leads the way."

Dr Allan's time in the US has been spent focussing on public health law issues for women and children.

She concurrently holds the prestigious Churchill Fellowship for 2011 and will shortly travel to Europe and the UK to study how other countries have managed the issues around sperm donor registration and information release to donor-conceived individuals.