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Parents of Donor-Conceived Persons: Experience of Their Children’s Search for and Linking with Their Donors in Aotearoa New Zealand

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Date

2023

Authors

Duff, Michelle Anne

Supervisor

Goedeke, Sonja

Item type

Thesis

Degree name

Master of Health Science

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Publisher

Auckland University of Technology

Abstract

In recent years, disclosure of donor gamete conception by parents to their donor-conceived children has been advocated in many countries, especially in jurisdictions that mandate or practice donor information collection, including in Aotearoa New Zealand where identity-release donation came into effect under the HART Act (2004). Nevertheless, donor-conceived persons’ [DCP] rights to have access to their donors’ information remains contentious, and legislation stops short of enforcing disclosure with the decision to disclose resting with the parent/s (Indekeu et al., 2021). Despite this, recent research shows an apparent trend towards disclosure to DCP (Duff, 2022). However, research is limited in trying to understand the long-term impacts of disclosure, such as contact between donors and DCP, not only for DCP, but also for parents. This research explores the experiences and impacts of nine parents in Aotearoa New Zealand whose DCP have searched for and linked with their gamete donors. Data was collected via in-depth interviews, and data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Parents in this study construct their DCP’s searching for and linking with their donor as an inevitable progression of disclosure, with subsequent linking seen either as a natural ‘given’, particularly where disclosure had occurred early, or, where disclosure had occurred later in the DCP’s life, a challenge to be confronted. All parents believed or had come to the belief that it was important for the DCP to know their genetic origin and to link with the donor. While parents regarded DCP’s donor conception history as the DCP’s story to share and believed that linking with donors should be DCP led, they also positioned themselves as having a role to play in supporting donor linking and pointed to the willingness of the donors and their families in enabling this contact. Where disclosure had either occurred early or where donor linking had been supported by parents, parents generally reflected on the strengthening of their relationship with DCP, while later disclosure and difficulty in donor linking was associated with tension in the DCP-parent relationship. Connections between DCP and donor were framed on a continuum from acquaintances to friends to extended family, and most parents reported that their children valued connections with their siblings in other families. Regardless of the nature of their experiences, parents reflected on the significant impacts of family building through DC and the need for support in navigating this form of family building. Whilst this study had limitations such as self-selection bias and the small sample size, it adds meaningfully to literature on how parents experience DCP–donor linking and may be helpful in informing policy and practice with regards to preparing and supporting parents, DCP and donors through the process of linking.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10292/17257

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Masters Theses