Sperm Donor Family Limits Victoria
Numbers matter!
ART treatment in Victoria cannot be carried out if it will result in more than 10 women having children who are genetic siblings. This number also includes the donor and any current or former partner of the donor.
How do clinics really know these numbers and who governs this?
(Note the limit may be lowered by the donor as part of the consent process where he/she must specify the number of women on whom treatment procedures using the donor’s oocyte, sperm or embryo may be carried out.)
If an ART provider contravenes the limit, they may face a fine $40800 or 2 years imprisonment or both.
The provision does not prevent women who fall within the 10 women limit, to have further children to the same donor, the law recognising that such women may wish to have genetically related siblings.
Resources:
Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 2008 (Vic), s 29(1).
Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 2008 (Vic), s 17(1)(b).
Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 2008 (Vic), s 29(2).
