The right to know one’s origins : a study in light of genetic material donation

Abstract

The right to know one’s origins is a topic to be treated with utmost sensitivity as it concerns the individual even prior to conception. Indeed, individuals who were not granted this right at birth grew up to feel prejudiced in various ways. Among the individuals who want to enforce this right are donor-conceived offspring. Albeit a rarity in the past, possibly due to secrecy, the number of donor-conceived children voicing their opinions about their rights is on the increase. The process of assisted reproduction via genetic material donation requires three parties; the intended parents, the donor and the resulting offspring. Being all humans, each have their own interests but unfortunately, the interests of the child were pushed aside since the very beginning. As a result, the right to know one’s origins only emerged when the offspring became adults themselves. Due to the protection of donor anonymity, they embark on a journey to enforce the right to know their origins in their respective countries to be able to obtain information about their genetic makeup. The right to know one’s origins takes on a vast definition as it includes various aspects; biological parents’ identity, family relationships, medical history, self-identity and so on. Therefore, when this right is not granted, the concerned individual loses more than one would think.