Under proposed changes to laws in Victoria, donor-conceived offspring could be given access to identifying information about their donor – even if the donor was promised anonymity.

The proposed changes have split the IVF profession and divided the community.

On one side are those who believe it is unethical to go back on assurances of anonymity.

They argue donors may have not told their families and may have no desire to meet their offspring, having donated for money or altruistic reasons.

On the other side are counsellors and donor-support agencies that claim a child’s right to know their biological heritage trumps any right to donor privacy.

Margaret Ambrose investigates the proposed changes and their wide-reaching implications for the Herald Sun newspaper…Read on.