Table 3 Proportion of healthcare professionals agreeing a with statements about families through embryo donation
Attitudesb | Total | Registered nurse | Physician | Psychologist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | |
Parents are the ones who live with and take care of a child | 166 (91.7) | 114 (92.7) | 37 (92.5) | 15 (83.3) |
A child must have a genetic link to at least one of the parents | 11 (6.1) | 8 (6.5) | 3 (7.5) | 0 |
Children conceived through embryo donation display the same problems as adopted children | 35 (19.3) | 24 (19.5) | 10 (25.0) | 1 (5.6) |
The child is as healthy as other children | 89 (49.4) | 56 (45.5) | 22 (56.4) | 11 (61.1) |
The child risks worse physical health | 10 (5.5) | 8 (6.5) | 2 (5.0) | 0 |
The child risks worse mental health | 30 (16.6) | 16 (13.0) | 10 (25.0) | 4 (22.2) |
The parents are more involved in their children compared to those in other families | 44 (24.7) | 35 (28.7) | 6 (15.8) | 3 (16.7) |
The child may experience a social stigma | 33 (18.3) | 21 (17.1) | 9 (23.1) | 3 (16.7) |
When mature enough, it is good for the child to be able to know the identity of the donors | 111 (61.7) | 71 (58.2) | 27 (67.5) | 13 (72.2) |
It is best for the child if the method of how he/she was conceived is kept secret throughout life | 5 (2.8) | 2 (1.6) | 2 (5.0) | 1 (5.6) |
It is important that the parents are honest with the child with regard to how he/she was conceived | 149 (82.3) | 98 (79.7) | 35 (87.5) | 16 (88.9) |
The child’s relationship with the parent could be damaged if he/she learns about the mode of conception | 25 (14.1) | 19 (15.8) | 3 (7.7) | 3 (16.7) |
Contact with the donors (when mature enough) can be harmful for the offspring and/or the family | 19 (10.6) | 15 (12.3) | 3 (7.7) | 1 (5.6) |
It is positive for the child (when mature enough) to be able to have contact with the donors’ offspring, which are the child’s full siblings | 85 (47.0) | 48 (39.0) | 26 (65.0) | 11 (61.1) |