Donors: Curious Connections in Donor Conception, Petra Nordquist and Leah Gilman

Abstract

Donor-assisted conception is generally not a priority concern in the field of social work. Although often hidden in plain sight, the grief of people with unwanted childlessness and the identity issues of people conceived with the use of donated semen, eggs or embryos may seem very insignificant in the face of structural violences such as climate change, poverty, homelessness and political oppression, where many social workers are engaged in helping those affected. Yet, it was nearly a quarter of a century ago that the BJSW published an article arguing for the continuing contribution of social work to this field (Blyth, 1999) and highlighting the values and principles underlying social work which have relevance to it. At that time, gamete donors in the UK were still legally allowed to remain anonymous, but the British Association of Social Work through its Project Group on Assisted Reproduction (Progar) was campaigning vigorously (and ultimately successfully) for that to change. Social workers had concerns about the destructive impact of secrecy in families and the Human Rights aspect of the discrimination against donor-conceived people in being prevented from obtaining information about their origins.