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Is donated sperm just another product?

7 April 2009

BRITTANY DONOVAN was born 13 years ago in Pennsylvania. Her biological father was sperm donor G738. Unbeknownst to Brittany’s mother, G738 carried a genetic defect known as fragile X – a mutation that all female children born from his sperm will inherit, and which causes mental impairment, behavioural problems and atypical social development.

Last week, Brittany was given the green light to sue the sperm bank, Idant Laboratories of New York, under the state’s product liability laws (see “Sperm bank sued for ‘unsafe’ sperm”). These laws were designed to allow consumers to seek compensation from companies whose products are defective…

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