Lotte Kofoed, a member of the municipal council and alderman in Frederiksberg Municipality, argues for updated legislation and a stronger children’s perspective regarding donor conception, emphasizing the need for open donor information and a public registry. She highlights the ethical dilemmas faced by donor children, including the potential for accidental incest and the emotional distress of discovering their origins later in life.

Kofoed, herself a donor child, shares her personal experience of discovering the truth about her parentage as a teenager, leading to significant emotional upheaval. She criticizes the current system, which often prioritizes the desires of parents over the rights and well-being of donor-conceived children.

Kofoed proposes a solution where all donor children receive their donor number before the age of 15 to avoid lies and potential inbreeding. She also advocates for increased access to information about the donor’s medical history and the establishment of a public donor registry, similar to Germany’s, to ensure the safety and accessibility of crucial information.

She expresses concern about the lack of regulation in the sperm donation industry, where one donor can contribute to up to 75 families worldwide, and the potential for inequality in health due to the ability to purchase exclusive donors. Kofoed also points out the vulnerability of unknown donors due to DNA testing, which can reveal their identity. She calls for an end to the use of unknown donors, aligning Denmark with other Scandinavian countries.

Kofoed emphasizes that while many donor children live fulfilling lives, others face significant challenges. She seeks a debate that acknowledges the complexities and ethical considerations surrounding donor conception, rather than simply dismissing concerns with the sentiment that “you should just be happy to be alive.”