Jul/090
Ban on IVF donors leads to shortage of eggs
A review in the sale of sperm and eggs for use in fertilisation treatment has arisen in the attempt to increase donations. Currently many childless couples are forced to seek treatment abroad due to a shortage in donations. Lisa Jardine, of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority suggests an increase in the expenses payment of £250 to donors to encourage women to donate their eggs. Furthermore the loss of anonymity of sperm donors was also highlighted as having a possible negative effect.
Concerns have been raised as to the exploitation of poorer women donating eggs to raise money if a higher rate is set. However Jardine argues that the higher rate should exist for women donating their eggs as the procedure is more invasive than sperm donation. Although it is generally agreed that the sale of eggs and sperm raises a number of ethical questions Jardine believes it would create a more transparent system. The authority is also set to discuss the guidelines surrounding donations within a family.
One such case was that of a 72-year-old man who donated his sperm to his daughter-in-law and the rules with regards to brother and sister donations.
Jun/090
Fathers MUST be More Involved and Face Up to Responsibility
The Government are now trying to focus all their energy on making Fathers more responsible for their children, at home and during separation.
Though the Government is bringing in 3 months unpaid parental leave for fathers, it is assumed this will only emphasise the inequality between men and women. The mother is always seen as the primary parent, whilst the father as the primary money earner and this is the reason many men will turn down 3 months parental leave and choose to stay at work.
Most now feel that if parental leave was paid like maternity leave is, this would help resolve inequality, and also help maintain a healthy family life by putting children first.
Encouraging more men to be involved in the upbringing of their children can only resolve the issues that surround parental responsibility and fathers. Most fathers stay at work because they feel they cannot afford to take unpaid parental leave. If this was paid, it would encourage more dads to share the responsibility of bringing up a child, rather than allowing the mother to act as a lone parent.
Jun/090
Dads not Married? No parental rights!
Parental responsibility is the ability to legally be able to make decisions for your child up until the age of 18 when the child is considered a young adult and can legally make the decision for their selves.
Most dads do not know that if they are not married when their child is born, or do not do so after the child is born, they have no or limited parental rights to their child. This responsibility goes to the mother in the event of a split. This means that fathers cannot sign school trip forms or hospital operation consent forms and more importantly, they cannot stop their child being taken out of the country by the mother.
Another fact that some fathers are still unaware of is that by completing a parental responsibility agreement form and returning it to the court, he will then be given parental responsibility. The mother does not need to sign the agreement; however it would be a good idea to get her to sign it if she will.
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