Australian Story: Aug 11

This week Australian Story looks at the ethical issues surrounding donor sperm confidentiality with a woman who spent 4 years trying to discover her biological father.

When she was 21, Lauren Burns was told a family secret that turned her world upside down. Her mother revealed that Lauren had been conceived using donor sperm in the early ‘80s at a clinic in Melbourne. Her parents never told anyone in the family and the donor was assured his identity would remain secret.

Lauren, who is now a gifted aeronautical engineer, was shattered by the revelation. She felt an overwhelming need to discover the identity of her biological father and understand the truth of her biological make-up.

At the time she was conceived there was no law defining the relationship between donor and offspring. Legislation was enacted in 1988 enabling the identification of donors but for those like Lauren who were conceived before then there remained no way to discover that identity.

That wasn’t good enough for Lauren. She needed to know. She spent the next four years trying to solve that mystery with passion and persistence.

Over two episodes Australian Story follows Lauren’s dogged detective work. What she manages to uncover is truly astonishing.

The Australian Story special also looks at the related stories of two other donor-conceived children. It examines the complex ethical issues surrounding donor confidentiality and raises serious questions about the ethical practices of donor-insemination clinics and the rights of the child.

8pm Monday ABC.