Seanad debates

Thursday, 26 March 2015

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage

 

10:30 am

Photo of Averil PowerAveril Power (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 47:



In page 35, line 36, after “birth” to insert the following:“, medical history, including information in respect of any serious genetically-inherited illnesses that run in their family”.
This amendment aims to ensure that medical information is available for donor-conceived children. It is important that people conceived through this process are able to get information, particularly in respect of any serious genetically inherited illnesses that run in the donor's family. In the case of several such illnesses, if people were made aware of them in time, they could take preventative steps to avoid it becoming a life-threatening illness or at least to lessen the risk of that. It is crucial donor-conceived people can obtain this information.

I appreciate the information they would get would only be that information available at the point of donation. Senator Walsh may move an amendment that seeks up-to-date medical information to be added continually. At the least, the information already collected by the clinics on the medical history of the donor should be made available to the donor-conceived individual as part of his or her history. People should be aware of any serious issue relating to medical risk.

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