A study of parenting of IVF and DI children.
This article describes a study which provides data about the long-term issues experienced by parents rearing children from in vitro fertilization and donor insemination programmes. Fifty-four families bringing up a total of 101 children, 74 of whom were the result of assisted conception interventions, were interviewed. The methodology was such as to secure a representative cross-section of participants. The findings presented in this article relevant to medicine and law relate to: (1) The consequences where 50% of the genetic history of a child created by the use of donated gametes is unknown to the parents and the child. (2) The impact of male infertility, as a largely taboo subject, on family relationships, and the consequent deception of the child. (3) The dilemmas of maintaining a secret for a lifetime from much loved children, all relatives and friends.
McWhinnie
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Department of Social Work, University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom.
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007246:Infertility / Q000523:psychology; D007316:Insemination, Artificial, Heterologous / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting; D006113:United Kingdom