Anonymity ruling 'will deter sperm donors'

Giving people the right to know the identity of their biological father could lead to a steep decline in the number of sperm donors, experts warned last night.

Alan Milburn, the Secretary of State for Health, is expected to announce soon whether sperm donors will lose their right to anonymity.

During a review of the law on donor insemination, the majority of health experts argued strongly that the right of children to know their true genetic history outweighed other considerations.

But Brian Lieberman, director of reproductive medicine at St Mary's hospital in Manchester, warned there was a "real danger" that removing anonymity could deter sperm donors. Mohammed Taranissi, of the Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre in London, also said such reform could discourage donors.