The child's perspective

As a Consultant in Reproductive Medicine, Dr Gidon Lieberman spends his day speaking with prospective parents about their choices. His role is to advise but also to listen, and to guide them in the choices they make.

Having practised fertility medicine for over two decades, he has seen how the field has changed in response to new legislation and new technological advances.

Like many others, Dr Lieberman was concerned about the impact of the removal of donor anonymity in the UK in 2005. He worried that it might lead to a reduction in the numbers of donors and that it might change the expectations of prospective parents and healthcare professionals.

In fact, he believes that the change has been a good one, if only for the fact that it brings to the fore the interests of the child. If it were you, Dr Lieberman suggests, wouldn’t you want to know?

For your discussion: What do you think? Would you have wanted to know if you were donor-conceived? If you are donor-conceived, and you feel comfortable sharing, what are your feelings about this?