How many siblings do I have? For Donor 150's children, it's 14 and counting

I've become very interested in the issue of regulations surrounding the use of donor sperm and eggs, so it was with great interest that I read an article in the Sunday Times this weekend, written by Kate Spicer.  It recounts the story of Donor 150 from the California Cryobank and the children born with the use of his donated sperm. A film about six of Donor 150's biological children, Donor Unknown, is premiering this week at the Sheffield documentary festival.  The true story is told of how six half-siblings met each other and their biological father; Jeffrey Harrison.

The children of Donor 150 became aware of each other through the Donor Sibling Registry; a website that helps donor-conceived children find any half-siblings they might have, and potentially, their father.  Wendy Kramer, founder of the Donor Sibling Registry, has been able to match 7,800 of them since 2000.  She predicts that she will be even busier as time goes on, as more donor-conceived children become young adults and want more information about their origins.

The lovely story here is that, so far, six of the 14 children known to have been fathered by Harrison now have the information they sought. They have met and developed relationships with their half-siblings; noticing similarities in their physical appearance, mannerisms and personalities. They now know where at least some of their characteristics come from. I am guessing that the association has added another level of identity to their emotional toolkit; better understanding of who they are because of where they came from.

According to Spicer, Jeffrey Harrison is a likeable beach bum and animal lover, cheerful, happy-go-lucky and spiritual. He does, however, come from intellectual stock, with some accomplished close relatives, so perhaps "his children" can trace their own intellectual and creative talents to them. While this is not their father in any sense of the word other than the use of his cells to create them, their tolerance of his offbeat ways and recognition that he is a kind and gentle person give them something on which to form a relationship of sorts.  For his part, Harrison sounds quite bemused to have a half-dozen young people who are biologically connected to him, look like him and want to know him. He says "I love the kids."

We have to wonder about the other children potentially born from Harrison's sperm, the number of which is as yet unknown.  Harrison donated sperm up to four times a week on and off for a period of eight years.  Because his profile was particularly attractive, mentioning good looks, a mellow personality and his illustious relatives, but leaving out the mention of his camper van home, Harrison was a popular choice of women requiring donor sperm. 

One of the hotly debated issues at the recent PET debate was how donor-conceived children will feel when they find out the truth of their origin.  There were a few on the panel and in the audience who thought that emotional upset, if not psychological damage, could result from a child finding out that their mother was paid money in exchange for her eggs. Others challenged this assertion, including me, believing that if the child is given the information in a sensitive and age-appropriate way, honouring the use of this form of assisted reproduction with gratitude for helping to create that child and that family, it would not be damaging. The children of Donor 150 bear this second theory out. Spicer interviewed them:

• 20 year old JoEllen Marsh (no relation to me) who is the child of a two-mother, lesbian couple, who said "If you grow up and it's part of your identity, it's cool. I'm proud. It's my story." 
• Roxanne Shaffer, 21, thinks Jeffrey is nice, with "the kindest heart."
• 23 year old Ryann McQuilton considers herself lucky that her parents were always honest with her about being donor-conceived. She believes that "keeping the truth from [children] can be damaging both to the relationship and the child's self-imag."
• Danielle Pagano, 21, was not told that she was donor-conceived by her parents until she was in her teens and has "some issues." It was Danielle who originally contacted JoEllen Marsh, when they were 16 and 15 years old, through the Donor Sibling Registry.

These young people seem to consider themselves fortunate, for the most part, to have met each other and to have met and liked the man who fathered them.

The industry in America is unregulated, so many dozens of children of Donor 150 could unknowingly be half-siblings. One of these, Rachelle, felt paranoid about the possibility of dating one of her half-siblings so chose only those of different ethnic origins. This was one of the issues brought up at the recent PET debate in London, as a reason to limit the number of children who could be born of a particular donor's gametes (sperm or eggs).  The HFEA is currently examining its UK regulations which govern donor gametes, including the issue of payment v. compensation. Currently, the law in the UK only allows for up to £250 compensation for expenses while there is a free market in the US, encouraging men like Jeffrey Harrison to sell his sperm frequently and over many years.

If UK law continues to limit compensation for donor gametes, the quantity will undoubtedly remain sparse. More people desperately wishing to create families will  feel it necessary to travel to a less regulated marketplace, such as the US, where they can choose from a menu of personal characteristics to find the donor of their choice. However, they will also run the risk of their child being half-sibling to dozens, if not hundreds, of other donor-conceived people.

If the law changes to allow a higher rate of compensation (see my blog post on the PET debate) or payment beyond compensation, more donor gametes will undoubtedly become available here in the UK. The higher cost of the gametes themselves would be offset by the money saved on international travel.  The other, equally if not more important, factor would be that the UK law limiting the number of times any donor may donate gametes is unlikely to change.  This effectively reduces the risk of half-siblings unknowingly engaging in incestuous relationships with each other. Since UK law now entitles children conceived with donated sperm in the UK after April 1, 2005, to know the donor's identity once they reach 18, the children would not be disadvantaged by being conceived here.

If this interests you, you may want to attend The Progress Educational Trust (PET) conference 'PASSPORT TO PARENTHOOD: THE EVIDENCE AND ETHICS BEHIND CROSS-BORDER REPRODUCTIVE CARE', taking place later this month, on Wednesday 24 November 2010 at London's Institute of Child Health, and there are still places available - see http://www.progress.org.uk/conference2010

I'd really like some comments on this topic. Have you seen Donor Unknown? If you have a perspective on any aspect of donor gametes, please let me know what you think.

Comments

[Shelley Craig]

I justed watched Donor Unknown? and I have to say it was one of the most touching stories I have seen on tv in a long while. I am convinced that Jeffery did have some type of higher being looking after him as his children were lead to him. I loved this story and I want to continue to find out more, I want to know if JoEllen keeps in contact with Jeffery whom I found to be a kind sole and II would welcome him as a friend. I cried when I watched this program it was very touching and I want to know more.

Thank you so much for touching my heart tonight!

God bless you all
Shelley Craig

[Anne]

How did Jeffrey become homeless. Did he not think of going to college like everyone else do when they are growing up. Why is he estranged from his parents i.e both Mum and Dad? What about his brother? Why is he not helping him? A lot of things don't sound right about this Man.