From a libertarian Blog, Marginal Revolutions:

The US is a world leader in sperm exports primarily because sperm banks in the U.S. are run on a for-profit basis. As a result, US sperm is reckoned to be of high quality (we always knew this didn't we?) particulary because the US version comes with a background on the vitals of the donor. Denmark also exports a lot of sperm because of high standards and demand for that blond, blue-eyed look.

Exports to Canada have increased in recent years because of a scandal involving poorly screened Canadian sperm. Canadians also import a lot of US eggs. The Canadian government, however, is apparently miffed as a new law is being readied that would forbid donations involving a paid donor. The law would not only make paid donation illegal in Canada it would make it illegal to use any paid-for sperm. Canadian couples seeking fertility options will suffer and who will benefit? I cannot think that this law is anything but spiteful and ridiculous. Is paying for sperm an original sin? As with other areas of Canadian medicine (see Tyler's posts here and here), the rich will now travel to the United States for treatment.

Aside: The Canadian Health Official quoted here is ignorant or disengeneous when she says "We don't buy or sell blood, or organs or tissues." In fact, Canada also imports a lot of US blood plasma. Plasma takes longer to donate than straight blood and as a result altruistic donation rates are low and much of the world relies on paid-for US plasma for its life-saving properties. Similarly, donating eggs is not nearly as much fun as donating sperm so altruistic donation of Canadian eggs is unlikely to make-up for restrictions on the import of paid-for US eggs.

Here is Health Canada:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/media/releases/2002/2002_34.htm

The proposed Bill prohibits unacceptable practices such as:

...paying a donor for their sperm or eggs, or providing goods or services in exchange; and,...

That part of the bill seems a tad silly to me. If someone wants to buy someone else's sperm, is it really something the government needs to stop?

The reason for prohibiting this is all the problems that can arise from paying people to donate. Not only are the people themselves at risk for their own health if they donate too much (say, someone with no home, no cash, no booze), but also it has led to the batches being contaminated in the past. There was a lot of this that happened in the US before it tightened it's monitoring laws, a lot of people got very sick, many with AIDS, because the clinic was treated as a business, thus every corner was cut, and the people dodnating didn't care about the quality of their blood, or helping someone else, just the pittance they recieved in return- the very low price paid back also encouraged only those of poor health and living conditions to donate.

Also it has a way of making it out to seem that those with more money are the ones who get the benefits - like blood or sperm - which may seem elitist to the general public. On a sperm only issue, it boarders the line of buying a child, which is illegal, so it is a legal quagmire in many respects. The Government probably does not want to risk itself, and let's face it, most of them are only there to make money anyway.

I am ASHAMED :o . There was a day when America exported steel, durable goods, electronics, computers, pharmaceuticals, textiles, agricultural products and other items that were the honest work of our hands...wait...I guess this still is "the work of our hands"...nevermind :p .

< 1. Uh........... >



(I choose dialogue option number one; less than speech. <speech.)

What happens if someone asks for a refund ? :whoa:

Edit: Ha! ok, prepare yourselves folks...
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They flog it off somewhere else :xx: :eek: :p

Yeah, I'm ashamed of me too :toofar: :shame: ;)

This thread is becoming nothing but sperm...um...spam.

Edit: you know, it's all Laches' fault. He should know better than to post such a fertile (no pun intended) ground for the likes of myself, Manus and ejsmith to reply to. Really, we can't be blamed...even at the Zoo, they warn you not to feed the animals! :D :lol: :bigeyes: :sick:

love the smilies!

[ November 04, 2003, 03:58: Message edited by: Hacken Slash ]

The reason for prohibiting this is all the problems that can arise from paying people to donate. Not only are the people themselves at risk for their own health if they donate too much (say, someone with no home, no cash, no booze),
As a red blooded American male this seems like a real stretch to me. There is a health risk associated with donating too much sperm? What, chaffing?

but also it has led to the batches being contaminated in the past. There was a lot of this that happened in the US before it tightened it's monitoring laws, a lot of people got very sick, many with AIDS, because the clinic was treated as a business, thus every corner was cut, and the people dodnating didn't care about the quality of their blood,I hadn't known this. I googled it and couldn't find a hit. I checked the CDC study on AIDS from 1991-2001 and there wasn't a single case in the report about contracting AIDS from a sperm donor. And, even if this was the case, this legislation seems a tad late since the laws regulating it have been around since at least 1998.

I'm not saying that what you say couldn't be true. But I'd be surprised if it was a significant problem and yet it would not turn up a news article or something.

Just seems like a rather extreme invasion of privacy to me. Aren't there more pressing public health concerns.

[ November 04, 2003, 05:02: Message edited by: Laches ]

You're right Laches, those outbreaks I was reffering to were from blood, not sperm, and I agree, it is needless and petty on behalf of the government. I'm just trying to find out why, not condoning it :)

I hadn't heard about this before, but my guess is that it's retaliatory.

There is currently a big dispute between Canada and the U.S. over Canadian exports of softwood lumber to the U.S.; basically, the U.S. wants to impose tariffs on the exports as it claims Canada subsidises the softwood lumber industry.

So, I think we are trying to strike back. You tax our softwood lumber, and we ban by-products from your “lumber” (which rumour has it is pretty soft :p ). :xx: :rolling: :spin: :roll:

P.S. - there's a lot of great lines in the previous posts, but this is my favorite:
There is a health risk associated with donating too much sperm? What, chaffing? HAR! :lol:

[ November 04, 2003, 16:39: Message edited by: Splunge ]

It's all part of the U.S. Evil Empire plan to take over the world. Who needs to impose a policy of "First Night" when the whole world BUYS American sperm anyway. Today Canada...tomorrow Mexico. Soon the entire world will be filled with young people with a genetic prediliction for Football (American :p )and who inherently possess bad grammar.

Time for another "Just say NO" campaign. :rolleyes:

Just think... if every child of an American automatically possesses American citizenship, we may be facing a situation in ~20 years where all these "Americans" who have been raised with European sensibilities register to vote, and skew the election so that a third-party candidate wins. We could be facing a mass outbreak of COMMON SENSE! :eek: :lol:

I don't know what to say to you people other than that you are SICK, SICK, SICK!

But in seriousness, I say drop the barriers and let trade, uh, flow!

Yes, the sperm must flow. :hahaerr:

I can feel Frank Herbert rolling in his grave right now. :toofar:

I'm sorry Frank! Please forgive me! :doh: