[Culturechat] If it isn't one thing, it is another

[Vance Roy]

Today, this news hit the public here in CH. It seems that the nation is 
acutely short in sperm donors and stocks are low. This turn of events 
is attributed in large part to a new law recently passed that says a 
child must be given information regarding his biological parents at age 
18 or younger, if there is a good reason. Apparently, some Swiss men 
are fearful of having an unknown child show up on their doorstep some 
day.

The donor is not entirely without rights. Only the father's name is 
given to the child, there are no paternity rights, and the mother 
cannot claim alimony. Regardless of this, in Ticino, donors are so hard 
to come by that sperm is being imported from the USA.

Only 3 % of those coming forward to donate can meet the criteria. A man 
must be between 20 and 40 years old, have a job, have a high sperm 
count, and of course have no genetic disease history. Additionally, one 
donor can only sire eight children.

With ads on TV, internet publicity, and magazine articles, this 
situation will hopefully improve. Of course if this cloning thing takes 
off, this may all become moot.


Vance Roy
gigli.saw@dplanet.ch
http://homepage.mac.com/fredch