Ethical reasons for the regulation of gametes’ donation and co-parenting

Abstract

The article analyzes the practice of legislative regulation of the gametes’ donation and its ethical grounds. Gametes’ donation is often used in conjunction with assisted reproductive technologies to treat infertility and/or family planning. The study applies an interdisciplinary approach: it is based on the research carried out in the field of philosophy (bioethics), law, medicine with the application of sociological surveys.The article shows that the introduction of this practice affects traditional family values, blurs fraternal-sisterly relations making genetic brothers and sisters strangers to each other, transforms the family creating its new forms through the practice of co-parenting that is gaining popularity in English-speaking countries. Also, the article identifies the problem of negative attitude of religious authorities to the practice of donating gametes. The legislative regulation cannot but take into account the public sentiment; and the percentage of believers in the State when implementing the laws regulating the donation of gametes is an important factor. Another important problem discussed in the article concerns the welfare and rights of a future child conceived with the help of the donation of gametes, his or her «right to know» and «right not to know» the birth secret.