2016 Volume 26 Issue 1 Pages 46-53
This purpose of this paper is to examine chronologically the statements of Ando Kakuichi, M.D., who directed the first birth by ART (artificial insemination by donor) in Japan, with due care and attention to the anonymity of sperm donors. The Japanese pioneer of AID made it a condition of its implementation that the donor should be kept anonymous. Therefore the babies born under this condition won’t be able to know their biological origin. In recent years, it has been pointed out that the children born by AID are seized with an urge to know their genetic father. However this issue had already been raised after the introduction of AID to Japan. In this paper we carefully followed Ando’s statements from 1949, when the first baby was born by AID, to 1968, when Ando died. The result clearly shows the change of Ando’s standpoints concerning the anonymity of donors and his recognition of the necessity of public arguments over this new medical technology to continue its implementation.
