adoption is intended to meet the needs of an existing child, assisted reproduction may involve deliberately creating a child who will have no genetic link to one or both parents (in the case of a couple), and who may also have no gestational link to an intending mother. The changing biological and social factors brought about by using reproductive technologies have become intertwined. New ways of family formation are bringing complexity to how kinship and parent-child relationships are defined and experienced, for the parties involved and resulting children and within the wider culture. The significance of biological relations varies according to circumstances and culture There are debates about the meaning and significance of biological relationships for how families are created and children are raised. For instance, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Task Force on Ethics and Law has argued: The rights and obligations connected to a genetic connection is a matter to be decided by society, usually by means of legislation. Given the absence of a fixed meaning, it is ethical to enable families to be created in this way [gamete and embryo donation]. United Kingdom research found that different weight was given to genetic relationships in adoption and embryo donation. While embryo donation parents viewed the donors as relatively unimportant to family life, the adoptive parents considered the birth parents to be important. The researcher concluded that the difference perspectives linked to the role of pregnancy and birth in the family’s creation. With parents who had used a donated embryo, the mother was able to gestate the embryo. The adoptive parents were also raising a child who was not genetically theirs, but in contrast, the mother had not gestated the pregnancy. Australian research indicated that genetics was underplayed by women using donated eggs, while women who used a surrogate mother emphasised the importance of genetic kinship. In contrast, New Zealand research found that embryo donation parents are highly sensitive to the impact of their children’s genetic history. This finding indicates that the cultural environment and regulatory requirements have an impact on the way genetic history and donors are considered. Kinship is significant in determining relationships and responsibilities, and may also bring customary and legal rights. New Zealand research relating to Māori reproduction, sexuality, maternity and adoption identified that the concept of whānau often transcends whakapapa and may include non-kin aligned through shared experience. In 2005, the New Zealand Law Commission identified that bloodlines are important in many tribal or customary situations, rather than foster or adoptive lines, in determining status or tribal connection. As a result of statutory and judicial
adoption is intended to meet the needs of an existing child, assisted reproduction may involve deliberately creating a child who will have no genetic link to one or both parents (in the case of a couple), and who may also have no gestational link to an intending mother. The changing biological and social factors brought about by using reproductive technologies have become intertwined. New ways of family formation are bringing complexity to how kinship and parent-child relationships are defined and experienced, for the parties involved and resulting children and within the wider culture. The significance of biological relations varies according to circumstances and culture There are debates about the meaning and significance of biological relationships for how families are created and children are raised. For instance, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Task Force on Ethics and Law has argued: The rights and obligations connected to a genetic connection is a matter to be decided by society, usually by means of legislation. Given the absence of a fixed meaning, it is ethical to enable families to be created in this way [gamete and embryo donation]. United Kingdom research found that different weight was given to genetic relationships in adoption and embryo donation. While embryo donation parents viewed the donors as relatively unimportant to family life, the adoptive parents considered the birth parents to be important. The researcher concluded that the difference perspectives linked to the role of pregnancy and birth in the family’s creation. With parents who had used a donated embryo, the mother was able to gestate the embryo. The adoptive parents were also raising a child who was not genetically theirs, but in contrast, the mother had not gestated the pregnancy. Australian research indicated that genetics was underplayed by women using donated eggs, while women who used a surrogate mother emphasised the importance of genetic kinship. In contrast, New Zealand research found that embryo donation parents are highly sensitive to the impact of their children’s genetic history. This finding indicates that the cultural environment and regulatory requirements have an impact on the way genetic history and donors are considered. Kinship is significant in determining relationships and responsibilities, and may also bring customary and legal rights. New Zealand research relating to Māori reproduction, sexuality, maternity and adoption identified that the concept of whānau often transcends whakapapa and may include non-kin aligned through shared experience. In 2005, the New Zealand Law Commission identified that bloodlines are important in many tribal or customary situations, rather than foster or adoptive lines, in determining status or tribal connection. As a result of statutory and judicial
review-donation-guidelines-consultation.docx