Access to genetic and birth origins information for people conceived following third party assisted conception in the United Kingdom

Abstract

In the United Kingdom, four distinct time periods may be identified during which differentiated information about their genetic origins may be available to a donor-conceived person. In addition, an individual conceived as the result of a surrogacy arrangement and who is also subject to a subsequent Parental Order may access differentiated information relating to the surrogacy arrangement dependent on which of the UK nations the Parental Order was made in. This paper outlines the historical, legal and social context of these provisions and identifies continuing issues for debate and possible further regulatory and legislative reform.