Are children cheated of an identity?

Hey guys,

Main Question for this debate: Are some of today's children cheated of an identity?   In class had to flick through lots of different newspapers the guardian, the times etc...and in the sunday times, this title stood out and thought it wuld make a nice debate. Mods/Vbs if discussed before feel free to close.

After my post on the Twins issue, this topic has raised many concerns for children more than ever before. The problems have always been there but never fully highlighted but with that news it shows more awareness to the issue now.With many children now conceived by in vitro fertilisation (IVF), and having the same biological parent, the chances of this happening again have significantly increased.

The case illustrates the importance of providing every child - whether born naturally, as these twins were, or by IVF - with a true record of their identity.

The current debate in parliament about what appears on birth certificates could either make the situation worse – by allowing the true identity of biological parents to be removed – or provide greater transparency and truth.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, now working its way through the British parliament, recognises same-sex couples as legal parents of children conceived through the use of donated sperm, eggs or embryos. The government ... have not accepted the argument that you should have the right to know who your biological father is on the birth certificate.

For an adopted child we have increasingly moved towards telling them the truth at an early age. That good principle should apply to donor-conceived children. Don't they have the same right to know the truth?

In a world that for security reasons wants to identify us by our DNA and test us for genetic disorders, it would be wrong not to provide this information. If a child discovers the information by accident, or as the consequence of a tragic scenario, they will despise those who kept it from them. We may also jeopardise their future health.

The right to anonymity for donors was removed in April 2005, allowing children to identify their genetic parents at age 18.

At the same time, there is no legal obligation for parents of donor conceived children to tell them.

Lord Alston said: "The state is colluding in a deception. We are opening the door to more cases like this one.

"One of the most fundamental things of all is to know who you are. The issue here is about human rights.

"A birth certificate that omits any mention of your true origin falsifies your history in a very significant way.

"Three years ago we lifted donor anonymity so every child has the right to know who his parents are.

"Although you have the right to inquire, there is no duty on anybody to tell you that you are donor-conceived. It's therefore possible for children never to be given that information."

Lord Alston said IVF, in which it was legally possible to father up to ten children, would increase the likelihood of more inter-sibling marriages.

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So reading all of that. What do you think are we cheating children of their real identity?

Do you think it is important that a child should know who their biological parents are? (For future health problems etc)

If yes/no then why?

Do you believe it is necessary to have a birth certificate with the fathers name on it as well? Or does this not matter?

So what should we do instead? When a child comes into the world, parents would get two birth certificates, a long and short version. These should accurately tell the child's true story.

One certificate could contain the basic facts of your birth while the longer version could record the fact of conception by donor. When using the certificate to obtain a passport or driving licence it would thus be possible to sustain family privacy while also allowing for truthfulness.

Crucially, this legal document would be a guarantee that every citizen would be able to establish privately the details of their true identity. That, in turn, might lessen the chances of tragic outcomes in the future.

-Saira

(source for some info: Sunday times)

  You never read my post as you obviously were Zzzzing.

Thanks for thoughtful viwes here lekhin my argument was about Birth certificates and should fathers name be there by law to prevent such cases like them married twins face

But yes parents do think in best interest of child, but really at the time of birth certificate they are actually doing what is right and eay for them, so if they hate the father and dont want him involved they wont put his name on birth certificate but a child later on will wantg to know and say if the mum dies who would tell the child?

So are we taking away their identity especially in cases of sperm/egg donations.