Todd Stephen
School of Law, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
J R Soc N Z. 2023 Jul 24;55(2):207-222. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2023.2230903. eCollection 2025.
In vitro fertilisation is now a common technique for assisting couples who have difficulty in conceiving a child. Suppose, however, that through the negligence of the IVF provider a child is born who possesses a genetic disability inherited from a sperm donor, or who possesses other genetic characteristics unwanted by the parents. This article explores the legal background to, and any potential legal liability flowing from, eventualities of this kind. It examines first the New Zealand accident compensation scheme, and concludes that there is no cover for the child but some limited cover for the mother. Actions for damages by the child and/or the parents become possible to the extent that the scheme does not apply. Such actions raise particularly difficult issues of both principle and policy, but, absent legislative intervention, a reasonably satisfactory resolution of at least some of these issues is within the reach of the courts.
体外受精如今是帮助难以受孕的夫妇的常用技术。然而，假设由于体外受精提供者的疏忽，出生的孩子患有从精子捐赠者那里遗传来的基因缺陷，或者具有父母不想要的其他基因特征。本文探讨此类情况的法律背景以及可能产生的任何潜在法律责任。首先考察了新西兰事故赔偿计划，并得出结论：该计划不为孩子提供保障，但为母亲提供有限的保障。在该计划不适用的范围内，孩子和/或父母有可能提起损害赔偿诉讼。此类诉讼引发了特别棘手的原则和政策问题，但是，在没有立法干预的情况下，法院至少能够对其中一些问题达成合理令人满意的解决方案。
