Arguments and Analogies: Do Children Have a Right to Know Their Genetic Origins?

Whether children have a right to know that they were created via “donated” gametes has generated debate for a quarter of a century. Pro‐transparency theorists use policies and attitudes concerning adoption to argue for changes in regulations related to “donor” gametes. Anti‐transparency theorists claim that discussions about whether children have a right to know their genetic origins must consider natural reproduction (and not just adoption). They argue that if we use an analogy to natural reproduction instead, we begin to see the problems with requiring transparency. I will argue that adoption is the more appropriate analogy for this debate and that we can make an argument for a strong right to know. I end with some further reasons that we can apply stronger regulation to the use of “donor” gametes than we would to natural reproduction.