Below is an explanation of your rights and the records that you are entitled too, based on the year you were conceived.
Born before August 1991 (DCR)
If you were born before August 1991, when the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990, 2008 amended) came into force you are part of the ‘Donor Conceived Register (DCR)’ cohort. Unfortunately, before 1991, donor conception in the UK was unregulated so clinics were under no obligation to keep records.
Born between 1991- 2005 (OTR)
If you were born between 1991-2005 you are part of the ‘Open the Register (OTR)’ cohort which is the name given to the group of donor conceived people eligible to apply to the HFEA for non-identifying information about this biological parent/your parents donor. The level of detail can vary greatly. It might be very basic information such as height, eye colour, ethnicity and occupation. But as years went on donors were encouraged to write a ‘pen portrait’ which was a more detailed description of their traits, likes and dislikes and personality type.
A small number (less than 300) of donors from this era have chosen to waive their anonymity. If this is the case with your donor you will also be given this identifying information when you apply. You will also be told about any genetic (half) siblings born from the same donor(s). You will learn how many, what year they were born and whether they were male or female at birth.
If there are other (half) siblings and you would like to connect with them the HFEA also have a voluntary register called the Donor Sibling Link (DSL) for this purpose. Please note these (half) siblings would need to know they are donor conceived, been through the OTR process themselves and volunteered their information to the DSL for a match to be possible.
Born after 2005 (Open ID)
If you were born after 2005, you are part of the ‘Open ID’ cohort which is the name given to the group of donor conceived people eligible to apply to the HFEA for identifying information about your parents donor/this biological parent once you turn 18. However, it is worth noting that although the law changed in 2005 there were a lot of births that were still recorded as ‘anonymous’ after this time. For example, 72% in 2005, 56% in 2006, and 21% in 2007. If you don’t know if your parent(s) used an Open ID donor you’ll discover this when your application to the OTR is processed.
Other Information
If your raising parents used an informal donor, so not through a licensed clinic or hospital, or you were conceived outside of the UK the HFEA will unfortunately not hold any information for you.
Note that a donor conceived person has no legal right to the donors estate. However, many donor conceived people would be happy to sign ‘anything legal to that affect’ and do include this in their original letters to the donor. Genuinely we, DCP, just want answers to blank spaces, up to date medical information and sometimes to build relationships with our genetic kin.
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