A government bill also being composed "discriminates against populations" such as homosexuals, opposition MK Aliza Lavie charges.
By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICHSperm (illustrative)(photo credit: INGIMAGE)
The Knesset plenum rejected on Wednesday a private member’s bill in a preliminary reading that would have regulated sperm donations, the activities of hospital sperm banks and artificial insemination.Yesh Atid MK Aliza Lavie, who initiated the bill, said there is chaos in the field, and that the numbers of children produced with sperm donations each year is currently 300 and rising. But there is no standardization, and it is not known how many children result from each man’s donation and if he donates (for payment) to more than one hospital. It would be possible that the children from one donation could meet each other without being aware of having a father in common, she said.Education Minister Naftali Bennett, answering on behalf of Health Minister Ya’acov Litzman – who opposed the bill - said there was no need for a private member’s bill, as Health Ministry legal personnel are working on a state bill for regulating sperm banks. “The sperm banks function well, but we are in favor of advancing legislation to regulate them. However, the principles of MK Lavie’s bill are not identical to those in the state bill,” he said without explanation.Lavie countered that the government bill being worked on “closes its eyes to reality, is not egalitarian and discriminates against populations” such as homosexuals.