Play all audios:
Egg and sperm donor payment rules could be changed in 2011 once a three-month public consultation on options by regulators is carried out. Views are being sought on options including donor
“inconvenience” payment, as egg and sperm donors can currently only receive compensation for expenses and earnings loss, though some other European countries pay out for “inconvenience”. The
change would see a similar measure in the UK, which could help increase donations. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which launched the consultation, is anxious that
the donation is not seen as a money-earner. Consideration is being given to “lump sum” compensation payments rather than reimbursing expenses and the limit could be altered on the number of
families one donor’s eggs or sperm can be used to create. This is currently limited to 10 to minimise chances of an accidental incestuous relationship between two children from the same
donor. Views on the family limit are sought “to ensure the right balance is struck between increasing the availability of donated eggs and sperm and protecting the interests of donors and
donor-conceived people,” said the HFEA. The consultation is open through questionnaires on the HFEA website. Decisions will be taken at a meeting of the HFEA in July.