DutchNews.nl - Hospital can keep sperm donor name secret

Hospital can keep sperm donor name secret

Friday 22 January 2010

A hospital in Delftzijl has won its legal battle to keep the name of a donor secret from a lesbian couple who had a baby using his sperm.

The couple went to court to try to get the donor's details after their child was born with dark skin. They had requested a white donor.

The hospital suspects the sperm may have come from an Aruban man who was in the hospital withh is wife for an artificial insemination programme. Officials have offered to contact this couple on behalf of the two women.

Groningen court rejected the women's appeal for information, saying they should first take the hospital up on this offer.

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Readers' comments

Racist moms got what they deserved. Poor kid though...

By stingo | January 22, 2010 3:00 PM

What's wrong with a dark skinned baby? Several reproductively challenged couples adopt children from a different race.

By F Malonzo | January 22, 2010 5:25 PM

When lesbians are unhappy with their new 'dark skinned' baby perhaps they should have a different outlook on life in general eh? Hypocrites.

By lakeMan | January 22, 2010 8:26 PM

What on earth would they need to contact this person for?

By Dan Fitzgerald | January 23, 2010 4:21 PM

So, what are the intentions of this couple? Find the man and sue him for having a darker complexion? What will they benefit from knowing who this donor is?

The court is right in their decision. If they feel they got the wrong sperm, they should take it up with the hospital first, at least.

By xen | January 24, 2010 12:51 AM

erm the hospital screwed up- if they want to get into the business of selling sperm for profit then they should be held accountable for their mistakes, even more so as you cant "return" a child like other merchandise. what if it turns out they are taking sperm from any homeless dude off the street? the parents have a right to be protected from such nefarious practices. if they had wanted a black child they would have asked for a black donor. how dare you accuse them of racism- many black couples would be just as upset if they gave birth to a white-skinned or asian child if they had requested a black child instead. the hospital should be punished and censured if not banned from carrying out any more in vitros. peoples lives are at stake here.

By karby | January 25, 2010 6:20 AM

The hospital is responsible for the mistake. They should make sure the samples are properly labeled and the information on the sample's labels is correct.
The mothers should be giving some more information on the donor, but not the contact details of the donor.
When you adopt, you get basic information on the birth parents (I should know) but not enough info to contact them.
The court is correct and the ladies should take the hospital on their offer.

By Darren | January 25, 2010 8:54 AM

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