Is open identity gamete donation possible in South Africa?
Description
In this podcast episode, Professor Donrich Thaldar and Dr Bonginkosi Shozi discuss whether gamete (sperm and egg) donors in South Africa must be anonymous, or whether they can choose to disclose their identities.
Summary
South African gamete banks and gamete donation agencies do not offer open-identity donors, as it is generally believed that donors must, by law, be anonymous. We analyse South African legislation, regulations and case law to show that this belief is mistaken, and that gamete donation in South Africa can be anywhere on the spectrum between anonymous and known. Accordingly, open-identity gamete donation would be lawful in SA and can be offered to the public by South Africa gamete banks and gamete donation agencies.
Further reading
Thaldar DW, Shozi B. Is open-identity gamete donation lawful in South Africa? South African Medical Journal. 2022.
https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2022.v112i6.16368
See also
Thaldar DW, Shozi B. South Africa’s latest medically assisted reproduction draft regulations: close, but no cigar. Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg. 2022.
https://doi.org/10.47348/TSAR/2022/i1a1
Thaldar DW. The in vitro embryo and the law: The ownership issue and a response to Robinson. Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal.
https://doi.org/10.17159/1727-3781/2020/v23i0a6217
Shozi B. Something old, something new: applying reproductive rights to new reproductive technologies in South Africa. South African Journal of Human Rights. 2020.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02587203.2020.1776632
Thaldar DW. Egg donors’ motivations, experiences, and opinions: A survey of egg donors in South Africa. PLOS ONE. 2020.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226603
United States
