Babies to Order (College women selling their eggs)

Current Magazine/MSNBC ^ | 4/30/06 | Sarah Kliff

[wagglebee]

Summer 2006 issue - Three years out of graduate school, Julia Derek has twelve kids. Or so she thinks. As a penniless senior at George Mason University, she spotted an ad in The Washington Post from a couple looking to buy a young woman’s eggs. Ten years, 12 donations, $50,000, and one successfully financed postgraduate degree later, Derek, now the author of “Confessions of a Serial Egg Donor,” explains the appeal of egg donation: “You’re doing a good thing, it feels good that people want you, it’s cool to spread your genes…It seems like a great thing to make money on.”

And college students can make a lot of money. An examination of campus dailies suggests just how much the DNA of an educated young woman who fits the requirements of the recipients might be worth. An ad in the Columbia Spectator promises $12,000 to a Caucasian student with brown hair and an SAT score above 1300, while two in the Harvard Crimson offer $35,000 to “one truly exceptional woman who is attractive, athletic, under the age of 29” and $50,000 to “an extraordinary egg donor. Must be between the ages of 18 and 26.”

“It’s really easy to get hooked,” says Derek, who initially became interested in egg donation when she realized it could substitute for a part-time job. “For a student it’s a ridiculous amount of money.”

[wagglebee]

Donors not only make a lengthy time commitment—difficult enough when juggling classes and surgery—but may also face medical complications. Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome occurs in one percent of all donation cases and can cause a life-threatening build-up of fluid around the heart and lungs. Donors also risk infection and adverse reactions to the anesthesia. Other may experience significant discomfort.

What they fail to mention is the adverse long term affects of the guilt about what they've done.

[wagglebee]

MORAL ABSOLUTES PING.

DISCUSSION ABOUT:

"Babies to Order (College women selling their eggs)"

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[freedumb2003]

What they fail to mention is the adverse long term affects of the guilt about what they've done.

I am not sure today's youth feel guilt. And, for example, if someone were to give me 4 figures for my sperm, I probably wouldn't give it another thought.

[Paladin2]

Wait until the child support payments start.

[coydog]

Well, I suppose that even with the moral problems, it does somebody, somewhere some good. And if she puts off bearing children for herself, at least something of her genetic legacy has already been established.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I don't mind her doing it so much, but I think it is wrong to sell them. Money has a way of destroying moral integrity.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

Will this be the same for sperm donors? If so, child support will follow.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Looks like the holier-than-thou folks are out in force.

Have fun trying to moralize the free market. Many have tried. All have failed.

[freedumb2003]

Will this be the same for sperm donors? If so, child support will follow.

MUI if the donation is truly anonymous then there can't be child support. In a few cases in a few states when the donation was made (in-)directly for a specific woman's purpose that Feminazi judges have awarded Child Support.

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

if someone were to give me 4 figures for my sperm, I probably wouldn't give it another thought.

If someone were to give me nothing for my sperm, but just accept it, I would be more than willing.

[stinkerpot65]

Julia Derek

[freedumb2003]

If someone were to give me nothing for my sperm, but just accept it, I would be more than willing.

LOL!!!

[Shannon]

I read the article. Nowhere was it mentioned about the possibility of years down the road what happens if two of this woman's many children should meet and marry. They'd have no idea they were related. Pity their children.

[nickcarraway]

If they find out who nthe parent is, they can go after child support. A third party, even the adoptive parent, cannot wave the child's rights.

[freedumb2003]

If they find out who nthe parent is, they can go after child support. A third party, even the adoptive parent, cannot wave the child's rights.

From what I have been able to research, there aren't any cases of the type you say. There was the kid that tracked it down via DNA registry, but he didn't ask for Child Support.

Do you have some cases on point? It would be interesting to explore.

[freedumb2003]

Cute. Reminds me of Kidman.

[bannie]

hahahahahahahaaaa!!!

[jazusamo]

I read the article. Nowhere was it mentioned about the possibility of years down the road what happens if two of this woman's many children should meet and marry. They'd have no idea they were related. Pity their children.

Excellent point...Unfortunately, many fail to realize this.
j

[Guenevere]

What do you have against moral absolutes?

[balrog666]

What they fail to mention is the adverse long term affects of the guilt about what they've done.

What guilt?

And why would you expect them to have any guilt over helping childless couples bear children?