Egg and sperm donation campaign: FOI release

Information requested

1. What impact assessment was carried out before the campaign was signed off?
2. Which organisations were consulted with before the campaign was launched?
3. Whether women undergoing egg retrieval following the campaign will receive up to £750 in "compensation"
4. What considerations the Scottish Government made as to the impact on women's long term health of the drugs used to suppress a woman's menstrual cycle and artificially mature her eggs?

Response

In response to your questions above, please find the answers below.

1. All licensed Assisted Conception Units (ACU’s) are required by law to offer gamete donors counselling, this is mandatory and is free of charge within NHS Scotland.

ACU’s must also give prospective donors sufficient, accessible and up to date information to enable them to make informed decisions about their donation and any consent they then provide.

2. The Scottish Government worked collaboratively with NHS Scotland, Fertility Scotland National Network and the patient representative group Fertility Network UK.

3. The national donor gamete campaign invites altruistic donations to help those people in Scotland who need help becoming parents. NHS Scotland does not make payments or provide compensation to gamete donors.

4. All NHS gamete donors in Scotland are advised of the medical process and provided with free counselling to consider all the implications before going ahead, providing their consent, and donating.

The NHS Assisted Conception Units (ACU’s) in Scotland follow strict guidance when accepting egg and sperm donors as set out by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.