1 October 2012: the way we provide donor information is changing

From 1 October 2012, if you decide to seek information about your child’s donor, the HFEA will provide this information in a different way.

How do we currently provide your donor’s information?

At present, if you make a request for information about your child’s donor and/or donor-conceived sibling(s), a member of the HFEA’s Register Information team will type up the information we hold, including the donor’s handwritten pen portrait and goodwill message (where provided).

We exclude anything about the donor which may identify who the donor is (such as the donor’s name and address). When your child reaches 18 years, they can apply to receive identifying information about your donor, if the donor is identifiable.

What is the new process?

From 1 October 2012, in addition to the typed up information you will receive, you may also receive a copy of your child’s donor’s handwritten goodwill message or pen-portrait, as opposed to a typed up version of the message.

Please note: we have limited handwritten information on donors who donated before 2005. The opportunity to provide pen portraits and goodwill messages was only provided to donors who donated at a clinic after 2005.

Why has the process changed?

Following a review of the way we provide donor information, we decided that some people, in particular donor-conceived people, would value receiving their donor’s handwritten goodwill message or pen-portrait (where provided).

See the decisions taken by the HFEA about donor information

Further decisions

Correcting donor messages
Sometimes donor messages include spelling and grammar mistakes, or, on very rare occasions, messages which may be upsetting to read. Despite this, the HFEA have recognised that donor-conceived people and their parents should see everything the donor has written, provided it does not identify the donor.

Donor messages written in a foreign language
If your child’s donor has written their donor message in a foreign language, the HFEA will translate it into English and provide you with a copy of the original message and the translated version.

We will exclude anything from the original and translated version of the message which may identify who the donor is (such as the donor’s name and address). When your child reaches 18 years, they are able to apply to receive identifying information about their donor, if their donor is identifiable.

Frequently asked questions about the new process

How does the HFEA get information about your donor?

Your child’s donor will have provided information about themselves (such as their hair and eye colour) in a donor registration form at a fertility clinic. This information is collected by clinic staff and then sent to the HFEA. This information is held on the HFEA’s Register.

Donors who donated after 2005 may also provide a goodwill message and pen portrait about themselves, which is also submitted to the HFEA. Often these messages will be handwritten by the donor themselves.

I have previously requested information about my donor. Is more information now available?

It is unlikely that additional information about your child’s donor will be available. Until recently, donor messages on occasion were amended to correct simple spelling or grammar mistakes. As this information will no longer be typed up, such mistakes will not be corrected

I would like to receive my donor’s handwritten message, can I re-apply?

Yes, you can re-apply, however, you may need to follow the previous application process.

Please note that it is also possible that the handwritten message may not have been written by the donor, but by a member of staff at the clinic. In addition, there is limited handwritten information on donors who donated before 2005.

Page last updated: 21 August 2012

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