'Gift without a price tag': Altruism in anonymous semen donation

Human Reproduction

Volumn 24, Issue 1, 2009, Pages 3-13

  Yee, Samantha ^a  

^a MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL   (Canada)

Author keywords

Altruism; Assisted human reproduction act; Donor recruitment model; Semen donation; Third party conception

Indexed keywords

ALTRUISM; CANADA; COGNITION; COMMERCIAL PHENOMENA; COMPENSATION; DEMOGRAPHY; EMOTION; GAMETE; HEALTH CARE; HUMAN; LAW; LITERATURE; MEDICAL RESEARCH; NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL RECRUITMENT; NOTE; PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT; REPRODUCTION; SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY; SPERM DONOR;

EID: 57749169312     PISSN: 02681161     EISSN: 14602350     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1093/humrep/den347     Document Type: Note

References (89)

1. Adams J, Pease E, Lieberman B. Donor Recruitment: Change Attitudes, Not The Law. London, UK: BioNews, 2006. http://www.bionews.org.uk/ commentary.lasso?storyid=3225 (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
2. Ahuja K. Donor Insemination in the Post-anonymity World: One Clinic's Experiences. London, UK: BioNews, 2008. http://www.bionews.org. uk/commentary.lasso?storyid=3686 (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
3. Almeling R. Selling genes, selling gender: egg agencies, sperm banks, and the medical market in genetic materials. Am Sociol Rev 2007;72:319-340.
4. Annas GJ. Fathers anonymous: beyond the best interests of the sperm donor. Fam Law Q 1980;14:1.
5. Batson CD. The Altruism Question: Toward a Social-Psychological Answer. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1991.
6. Bernier L, Grégoire D. Reproductive and therapeutic cloning, germline therapy, and purchase of gametes and embryos: comments on Canadian legislation governing reproductive technologies. J Med Ethics 2004;30:527-532.
7. Bissessar H. Altruism by law. Can J Infertility Awareness 2005; Summer:11-14.
8. Blyth E, Ryll I. Donor Recruitment: is "Tackiness" The Answer? Date Unreported. London, UK: BioNews, 2007. http://www.bionews.org. uk/commentary.lasso?storyid=3379 (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
9. Can-Am Cryoservices Corporation. 2008. http://www.canamcryo.com (14 July 2008, date last accessed), Copyright 2008.
10. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Web site. Sperm Donor Shortage Hits Canadian Infertility Clinics. http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2006/12/ 19/sperm-shortage.html (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
11. Claman P. Guest editorial: the Assisted Human Reproduction Act. J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2007;29:303-304.
12. Cook R, Golombok S. A survey of semen donation: phase II - the view of the donors. Hum Reprod 1995;10:951-959.
13. Daniels K. Regulation and reproductive choice: The New Zealand approach. Hum Fertil 2005;8:75-77.
14. Daniels K. Donor gametes: anonymous or identified? Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2007;21:113-128.
15. Daniels K, Feyles V, Nisker J, Perez-y-Perez M, Newton C, Parker JA, Tekpetey F, Haase J. Semen donation: implications of Canada's Assisted Human Reproduction Act 2004 for recipients, donors, health professionals, and institutions. J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2006;28:608-615.
16. Daniels KR. Semen donors: their motivations and attitudes to their offspring. J Reprod Infant Psychol 1989;7:121-127.
17. Daniels KR. To give or sell human gametes - the interplay between pragmatics, policy and ethics. J Med Ethics 2000;26:206-211.
18. Daniels KR, Hall DJ. Semen donor recruitment strategies: a non-payment based approach. Hum Reprod 1997;12:2330-2335.
19. Daniels KR, Lewis GM. Donor insemination: the gifting and selling of semen. Soc Sci Med 1996;42:1521-1536.
20. Daniels KR, Curson R, Lewis G. Semen donor recruitment: a study of donors in two clinics. Hum Reprod 1996;11:746-751.
21. Del Valle A, Bradley L, Said T. RBM Online 2008;17(Suppl. 1):15-20.
22. Eastlund T. Willing of volunteer blood donors to be volunteer semen donors. Hum Reprod 2003;80:1513-1514.
23. Eisenberg N. Altruistic Emotion, Cognitive, and Behaviour. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1986.
24. Eisenberg N, Fabes RA, Miller PA, Fultz J, Shell R, Mathy RM, Reno RR. Relation of sympathy and distress to pro-social behaviours: a multi-method study. J Pers Soc Psychol 1989;57:55-66.
25. Ferguson E, France C, Abraham C, Ditto B, Sheeran P. Improving blood donor recruitment and retention: integrating theoretical advances from social and behavioural science research agendas. Transfusion 2007;46:1999-2010.
26. Fernándex-Montoya A. Altruism and payment in blood donation. Transfus Sci 1997;18:379-386.
27. Gazvani MR, Wood SJ, Thomson JM, Kingsland CR, Lewis-Jones DI. Payment or altruism? The motivation behind gamete donation. Hum Reprod 1997;12:1845-1846.
28. Gillespie T, Hillyer C. Blood donors and factors impacting the blood donation decision. Transfus Med Rev 2002;16:115-130.
29. Gilvie MO. Woman freezes her eggs for infertile daughter. Toronto, Toronto Star, 2007. July 5 A1.Canada.
30. 'Give a Toss' web campaign. 2007. www.giveatoss.com (14 July 2008, date last accessed), Copyright 2007.
31. Glynn S, Schreiber GB, Murphy EL, Kessler D, Higgins M, Wright DJ, Mathew S, Tu Y, King M, Smith J. Factors influencing the decision to donate racial and ethnic comparisons. Transfus 2006;46:980-990.
32. Golombok S, Cook R. A survey of semen donation: phase I - the view of UK licensed centres. Hum Reprod 1994;9:882-888.
33. Guerin JF. The donation of gametes is possible without paying donors: experience of the French CECOS Federation. Hum Reprod 1998; 13:1129-1132.
34. Health Canada. Health Canada Directive: Technical Requirements for Therapeutic Donor Insemination. Ottawa, Canada: Health Canada, 1 July 2000. http:// www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/brgtherap/applic-demande/guides/semensperme- acces/semen-sperme_directive-eng.php (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
35. Health Canada. Health Canada Directive: Guidance on the Processing and Distribution of Semen for Assisted Conception Regulations. Ottawa, Canada: Health Canada, 1 September 2004a. http://www.hc-sc.gc. ca/dhp-mps/compli- conform/info-prod/don/gui_41_tc-tm-eng.php (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
36. Health Canada. Research Report on Altruistic Gamete Donation, commissioned by Health Canada. Ottawa, Canada: Health Canada, February 2004b. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/pubs/reprod/al-gamete/index-eng.php (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
37. Health Canada. Workshop on the Reimbursement of Expenditures for Egg and Sperm Donors. Ottawa, Canada: Health Canada, March 2005. http:// www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/pubs/reprod/2005-donors-donneurs/indexeng. php (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
38. Health Canada. Assisted Human Reproduction at Health Canada: Frequently Asked Questions. Ottawa, Canada: Health Canada, 7 August 2006. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/reprod/hc-sc/faq/index-eng.php (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
39. Health Canada. Assisted Human Reproduction Agency. Ottawa, Canada: Health Canada, June, 2007a. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/reprod/ agenc/index-eng.php (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
40. Health Canada. Assisted Human Reproduction Agency of Canada 2006-2007: Report on Plans and Priorities. Ottawa, Canada: Health Canada, 2007b. http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/rpp/0607/ahrac-accpa/ahrac-accpa_e.pdf (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
41. Healy K. Embedded altruism: blood collection regimes and the European Union's donor population. Am J Sociol 2000;105:1633-1657.
42. Healy K. Last Best Gifts: Altruism and the Market for Human Blood and Organs. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2006.
43. Hoffman ML. Is altruism part of human nature? J Pers Soc Psychol 1981; 40:121-137.
44. House of Commons of Canada. Assisted Human Reproduction Act SC 2004: c2. Ottawa, Canada: House of Commons, 2004. http://laws.justice.gc. ca/en/A-13.4/index.html (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
45. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Code of Practice. London, UK: HFEA, 1993.
46. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Consultation on the Implementation of Withdrawal of Payments to Donors. London, UK: HFEA, 1998a.
47. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Outcome of Consultation on the Implementation of Withdrawal of Payments to Donors. London, UK: HFEA, 1998b.
48. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Who Are The UK's Sperm Donors? Fertility Regulator Presents National Picture of the People Who Donate. Stereotype of Hard-up Medical Students a Thing of the Past. London, UK: HFEA, October 2005. http://www.hfea.gov.uk/en/ 1109.html (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
49. Infertility Awareness Association of Canada. Parents and prams on parliament hill: making a case against Bill C6. Can J Infertility Awareness 2004;5:22-30.
50. Irvine DS, Cawood EHH, Richardson DW, MacDonald E, Aitken RJ. Letter to the editor: a survey of semen donation: phase II the view of the donors. Hum Reprod 1995;10:2752-2753.
51. Johnson M. Payments to gamete donors: position of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Hum Reprod 1997;12:1839-1846.
52. Lalos A, Daniels K, Gottlieb C, Lalos O. Recruitment and motivation of semen providers in Sweden. Hum Reprod 2003;18:212-216.
53. Lansac J, Le Lannou D. Reproductive health care policies around the world: sperm donation and practice of AID in France. J Assist Reprod Gen 1994;11:231-236.
54. Lui SC, Weaver SM. Attitudes and motives of semen donors and non-donors. Hum Reprod 1996;11:2061-2066.
55. Lui SC, Weaver SM, Robinson J, Debono M, Nieland M, Killick SR, Hay DM. A survey of semen donor attitudes. Hum Reprod 1995;10:234-238.
56. Lyall H, Gould GW, Cameron IT. Should semen donors be paid? A survey of the attitudes of the general public. Hum Reprod 1998;13:771-775.
57. McLaughlin EA, Day J, Harrison S, Mitchell J, Prosser C, Hull M. Recruitment of gamete donors and payment of expenses. Hum Reprod 1998;13:1130-1132.
58. McVeigh K. Online ads for sperm donors called offensive. London, UK: The Guardian, 26 March 2007. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/ 2007/mar/26/newmedia. advertising (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
59. Miner J. It's a Human Right to Know Your Father: Canada is Establishing A Registry to Collect Health Information. Ontario, Canada: The London Free Press, June 11 2008, A4.
60. Misje AH, Bosnes V, Gåsdal O, Heier HE. Motivation, recruitment and retention of voluntary non-remunerated blood donors: a survey-based questionnaire study. Vox Sang 2005;89:236-244.
61. Morris P. Raising Awareness of the UK Egg and Sperm Donor Shortage. London, UK: BioNews, 26 September 2005. http://www.bionews.org.uk/ commentary.lasso?storyid=2757 (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
62. Murray C, Golombok S. Oocyte and semen donation: a survey of UK licensed centres. Hum Reprod 2000;15:2133-2139.
63. National Gamete Donation Trust. 2008c. http://www.ngdt.co.uk (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
64. New Zealand Government. Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Act No 92. Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Government, 2004. http://www.legislation. govt.nz/act/public/2004/0092/latest/ viewpdf.aspx (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
65. Ng KK, Donat R, Chan L, Lalak A, Pierro ID, Handelsman DJ. Sperm output of older men. Hum Reprod 1994;19:1811-1815.
66. Novaes SB. Giving, receiving, repaying: gamete donors and donor policies in reproductive medicine. Int J Technol Assess 1989;5:639-657.
67. Outreach Health Services Inc. 2008. http://www.donorspermohs.com (14 July 2008, date last accessed), Copyright 2008.
68. Paul S, Harbottle S, Stewart JA. Recruitment of sperm donors: the Newcastle-upon-Tyne experience 1994-2003. Hum Reprod 2006;21:150- 158.
69. Pedersen B, Nielsen AF, Lauritsen JG. Psychological aspects of donor insemination. Semen donors: their motivations and attitudes to artificial insemination. Acta Obstet Gyn Scan 1994;73:701-705.
70. Pennings G. The internal coherence of donor insemination practice: attracting the right type of donor without payment. Hum Reprod 1997;12:1842-1844.
71. Piliavin JA, Callero PL. Giving Blood: The Development of an Altruistic Identity. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991.
72. Purdie A, Peek J, Adair V, Graham F, Fisher R. Attitudes of parents of young children to semen donation: implications for donor recruitment. Hum Reprod 1994;9:1355-1358.
73. ReproMed. 2008. http://www.repromed.ca (14 July 2008, date last accessed), Copyright 2008.
74. Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies. Proceed with Care: Final Report of the Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies. Ottawa, Canada, Canadian Government Publishing, 1993.
75. Sauer MV, Gorrill MJ, Zeffer KB, Bustillo M. Attitudinal survey of semen donors to an artificial insemination clinical. J Reprod Med Obstet Gynaecol 1989;3415:362-364.
76. Schonfeld T. Smart men, beautiful women: social values and gamete commodification. B Sci Technol Soc 2003;23:168-173.
77. Schover LR, Rothmann SA, Collins RL. The personality and motivation of semen donors: a comparison with oocyte donors. Hum Reprod 1992;7:575-579.
78. Shenfield F, Steele SJ. Why gametes donors should not be paid. Hum Reprod 1995;10:253-255.
79. Shenfield F. Recruitment and counselling of semen donors: ethical problems. Hum Reprod 1998;13(Suppl. 2):70-76.
80. Shenfield F. Gamete donation: ethical implications for donors. Hum Fertil 1999;2:98-101.
81. Sidhu RS, Sharma RK, Kachoria S, Curtis C, Agarwal A. Reasons for rejecting potential donors from a sperm bank program. J Assist Reprod Gen 1997;14:354-360.
82. Steele WR, Schreiber GB, Guiltinan A, Nass C, Glynn SA, Wright DJ, Kessler D, Schlumpf KS, Tu Y, Smith JW. The role of altruistic behaviour, empathetic concern, and social responsibility motivation in blood donation behaviour. Transfusion 2008;48:43-54.
83. Subramanian S. Wombs for Rent: is Paying the Poor to Have Children Wrong When Both Sides Reap Such Benefits? Ontario, Canada: Maclean's, 2 July 2007. http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20070702_107062_107062 &source=srch (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
84. Thorn P. Donor insemination: the needs of the children. Creating Families 2007;Spring:8-12.
85. Titmuss RM. The Gift Relationship: From Human Blood to Social Policy. London, UK: Allen and Unwin, 1970.
86. Waldby C, Mitchell R. Tissue Economies. Blood, Organs, and Cell Lines in Late Capitalism. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2006.
87. Witjens L. Give Life, Give Hope: A Plea for Egg and Sperm Donors. London, UK: BioNews, 31 January 2005. http://www.bionews.org.uk/ commentary.lasso?storyid=2428 (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
88. Witjens L. Recruiting Sperm Donors: Why It's Time for a New Approach. London, UK: BioNews, 4 April 2007. http://www.bionews.org.uk/ commentary. lasso?storyid=3394 (14 July 2008, date last accessed).
89. Yee S, Hitkari JA, Greenblatt EM. A follow-up study of women who donated oocytes to known recipient couples for altruistic reasons. Hum Reprod 2007;22:2040-2050.