Third Party Reproduction

Question 1

what is third party reproduction?

Answer 1

not a reproductive technology

def:
involves someone other than the individual or couple that plans to raise the child (intended parents) in the process of reproduction

Question 2

What is altruism and how is it embedded within third party reproductive practices in Australia?

Answer 2

the principal and practice of concern for the wellbeing and/or happiness of others
- donation/ surrogacy is a gift
- donors/surrogates cannot be paid beyond reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses (medical costs, travel)
- embryologists, doctors, nurses, counsellors, lawyers are exempt

Question 3

What is commercialism?

Answer 3

this occurs in the US
- egg donor compensation = 5000 - 10,000
- surrogate compensation = 35,000 - 55,000

Question 4

Why is commercialism not used in australia?

Answer 4

criminalised
- concern of commodification and exploitation

however we need a a middle ground framework but this is a grey area people do not want to discuss

Question 5

What are the two types of donor for gamete donation in Australia?

Answer 5

1. known donor
   - friend
   - family member
2. de-identified donor
   - donor is not known until child turns 18 then information of donor is known up to child if they would like to contact

Question 6

When a gamete has been donated who has legal parentage in Australia?

Answer 6

when a women become pregnant as a result of AI or ET in Aus she (and her de facto or married partner if applicable) is presumed to be the parent of any child born.

Question 7

When using sperm donation who are the recipient parents according to VARTA?

Answer 7

single women 53%
same sex female couples 35%
heterosexual couples 12%

Question 8

When using sperm donation where are the donors recruited from according to VARTA?

Answer 8

clinic (de-identified) 59%
recipient (known) 36%
overseas (de-identified) 5%

Question 9

What is informal sperm donation and what are the risks/ benefits?

Answer 9

meeting online via online forums and conceiving via home insemination or sexual intercourse

benefits
- known donor
- lower costs

risks
- sexual assault
- STI’s
- family limits exceeded
- legal parentage

Question 10

What are the medical indications for egg donation?

Answer 10

premature menopause

high risk of passing genetic disease

ovaries have been affected by chemo or serious illness

multiple failed IVF attempts

Question 11

Where are egg donors usually recruited from according to VARTA?

Answer 11

recipient 70%
overseas 26%
clinic 4%

Question 12

What are the two types of surrogacy?

Answer 12

traditional:
- surrogate conceives via home insemination and is genetically related to offspring

gestational surrogacy:
- surrogate conceives via embryo transfer and is not genetically related to offspring

Question 13

Who has legal parentage in the surrogacy process?

Answer 13

the surrogate will have legal parentage and it will be transferred to the intended parents post birth

Question 14

What are the public thoughts between the two surrogacy types?

Answer 14

gestation surrogacy more supported than traditional

heterosexual couples most supported to use surrogacy, closely followed by heterosexual couples majority did not support surrogacy for heterosexual single men

Question 15

In what states can gay male couples use surrogacy?

Answer 15

everywhere but WA

Question 16

What states in Aus can single people use surrogacy?

Answer 16

WA = women only
ACT = no singles
everywhere else is fine

Question 17

What stated in Aus is traditional surrogacy against the law?

Answer 17

ACT

Question 18

In what states is it illegal to advertise surrogacy

Answer 18

ACT, QLD, TAS and VIC

Question 19

During the surrogacy process what are the pre-conception legal requirements?

Answer 19

counselling
- ensures everyone is aware of the psychological and social implication of undergoing surrogacy

independent legal advice
- ensures everyone is aware of their legal rights and responsibilities

Question 20

What are the post birth legal requirements in the surrogacy process?

Answer 20

court order
- transfers parentage from surrogate to intended parents

Question 21

Is surrogacy covered by medicare?

Answer 21

patients engaged in surrogacy arrangements are excluded from medicare rebates

Question 22

Who would benefit from mitochondrial donation?

Answer 22

female patients who have a mitochondrial disease and want to prevent transmission to offspring

Question 23

Why is mitochondrial donation used?

Answer 23

mitochondrial diseases have a range of symptoms including developmental delay and poor growth

mitochondrial donation stops the transmission from mother to offspring as they are maternally inherited but still allows for genetic relatedness to mother

Question 24

Explain simply how mitochondrial donation works?

Answer 24

1. both donor and patient egg are fertilised with sperm
2. once egg is fertilised the nuclear DNA is located in pronuclei
3. donor pronuclei is removed and patient pronuclei is removed and put into donor egg
4. the fertilised end at the end has:
   - patient nuclear DNA
   - healthy mitochondrial DNA from the egg donor

Question 25

Under Australian Law it is prohibited to create an embryo which contained:
- genetic material of more than two people and
- heritable changes to genome

However what changed in 2022 to allow for mitochondrial donation to be allowed?

Answer 25

Mitochondrial donation Law reform (Maeve’s Law)
- regular donor rules still apply in Aus (altruism)