Ban of use of sperm from HIV-positive men under review
Bill pending to let fertility clinics use ‘washed’ specimens
(sz) Dan Hartmann, a 32-year-old Oakland graphic artist, met his wife Susan six years ago, and like many couples they decided they wanted to start a family. There’s a complication: A blood transfusion 20 years ago left Hartmann HIV-positive.
Medical technology has existed for more than a decade to “wash” the HIV from Hartmann’s sperm, which then could be used to add a new member to the Hartmann household while mother and child remain HIV-free. Except Hartmann can’t get the treatment in California because the state bans the use of sperm from an HIV-positive donor.
“We want to have a kid, but the law here doesn’t allow fertility clinics to help a man who is HIV-positive,” Hartmann said.
Legislation will be debated Wednesday in the Senate Health Committee to permit the use of washed sperm from an HIV-positive donor to impregnate a consenting woman. more…
From: »The San Francisco Chronicle«