2024-06-182023/24:SoU16 · p.3SoUHealth & social services
Assisted Reproduction
Assisted fertilization: a national register of gamete donors
What's at stake: The decision concerns how assisted fertilization with donated gametes is regulated and coordinated in Sweden, including the risk that a child could end up with more donor siblings than intended when clinics in different countries lack a shared donor register.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the Riksdag should call for a national register of gamete donors and international action against surrogacy, or whether the committee - which points to existing legislation and an ongoing agency mandate to look at such a register - should reject the motions.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions, pointing out that the Genetic Integrity Act already regulates the use of biotechnology in assisted fertilization, that the National Board of Health and Welfare has been tasked with analysing the need for a national register of gamete donors, and that the question of international action against surrogacy does not require a separate Riksdag statement.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 7 (MP)
The reserving party (MP) wants the government to examine the possibility of establishing a national register of gamete donors, since a Swedish clinic that imports donated gametes currently has no way of knowing whether another clinic has already used the same donor, risking more children than permitted sharing the same donor as biological parent.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 7 by MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| S | No | Yes 93/0/0/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 13/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Abstain 0/0/63/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2023/24:211 by Ulrika Westerlund et al. (MP) and 2023/24:407 by Mikael Eskilandersson et al. (SD) demands 6 and 7.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:211 av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP) och 2023/24:407 av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 6 och 7.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said no to approximately 140 proposals in motions on priorities within health and medical care from the general motion period 2023. The motions concern, for example, priorities, assisted reproduction, donation and virginity examinations. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to the fact that work is already underway in the areas that the motions address.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to intensify efforts to eradicate cervical cancer through vaccination and screening. (MP) — Reservation 7
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan says nothing about a register of sperm donors, but it is based on the fact that children's rights should be strengthened and that family law should be based on how people actually live.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about a register of sperm donors, but it is based on the fact that children's rights should be strengthened and that family law should be based on how people actually live. That a clinic cannot see if a donor has already been used by another clinic risks precisely the child's rights and high-quality care, which the plan requires. Support for investigating a register is therefore derived and uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger ingenting om register över könscellsdonatorer, men den bygger på att barns rättigheter ska stärkas och att familjerätten ska utgå från hur människor faktiskt lever. Att en klinik inte kan se om en donator redan använts av en annan klinik riskerar just barnets rätt och en vård av hög kvalitet, vilket planen kräver. Stödet för att utreda ett register är därför härlett och osäkert.
- stronger rights for childrendecisive»Utvecklingen mot starkare rättigheter för barn är en av de progressiva« (party programme ↗)“The development towards stronger rights for children is one of the progressive”
- modern family law»från hur människor faktiskt lever, med en modern familjerätt.« (party programme ↗)“based on how people actually live, with modern family law.”
- high quality throughout care»investera brett i vården så att den håller hög kvalitet i alla delar.« (party programme ↗)“invest broadly in care so that it maintains high quality in all parts.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan does not address gamete donation, but the party programme establishes that the best interests of the child shall be considered in all decisions and that the right to family planning shall be secured, and the election manifesto that oversight of healthcare shall be increased to guarantee quality.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address gamete donation, but the party programme establishes that the best interests of the child shall be considered in all decisions and that the right to family planning shall be secured, and the election manifesto that oversight of healthcare shall be increased to guarantee quality. A national donor register that prevents more children than permitted from receiving the same donor follows from these principles. The position is derived and uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte könscellsdonation, men partiprogrammet slår fast att barnens bästa ska beaktas vid alla beslut och att rätten till familjeplanering ska säkras, och valmanifestet att tillsynen av sjukvården ska växlas upp för att garantera kvaliteten. Ett nationellt donatorregister som hindrar att fler barn än tillåtet får samma donator följer av dessa principer. Ställningstagandet är härlett och osäkert.
- the child's best interests in all decisionsdecisive»Alla barn ska ha rätt till en trygg uppväxt i enlighet med FN:s barnkonvention.« (party programme ↗)“All children shall have the right to a safe upbringing in accordance with the UN child convention.”
- increased oversight of care»Tillsynen av sjukvården ska växlas upp för att garantera kvaliteten.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Oversight of healthcare shall be increased to guarantee quality.”
- right to family planning»Det kräver rätt och möjlighet till familjeplanering.« (party programme ↗)“It requires right and opportunity for family planning.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan does not address assisted reproduction or donation registers.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address assisted reproduction or donation registers. The closest principles are that no patient shall come to harm and that the Convention on the Rights of the Child shall become Swedish law with child impact assessment of political decisions, which suggests investigating a register that prevents more children than permitted from having the same donor. The plan's protection of integrity and privacy at the same time provides a counterweight when personal data are to be registered.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte assisterad befruktning eller donationsregister. Närmast liggande principer är att ingen patient ska komma till skada och att barnkonventionen ska bli svensk lag med barnkonsekvensanalys av politiska beslut, vilket talar för att utreda ett register som hindrar att fler barn än tillåtet får samma donator. Planens värn om integritet och privatliv utgör samtidigt en motvikt när personuppgifter ska registreras.
- patient safetydecisive»En av grundprinciperna i vården är att ingen patient ska komma till skada.« (party programme ↗)“One of the basic principles in care is that no patient shall come to harm.”
- the child's best interests in decisions»FN:s barnkonvention ska bli svensk lag och politiska beslut bör föregås av en barnkonsekvensanalys.« (party programme ↗)“The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child shall become Swedish law and political decisions should be preceded by a child impact assessment.”
- integrity in registration»Vi vill värna människors rätt till integritet och privatliv.« (party programme ↗)“We want to protect people's right to integrity and privacy.”
The plan does not address assisted reproduction or donation registries.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address assisted reproduction or donation registries. The nearest principles are that actors in society shall adopt the individual's perspective with children's rights as most significant, and that healthcare shall rest on science and proven experience. Investigating a national register that prevents more children than permitted from receiving the same donor follows from these principles, while the plan's requirement for integrity review of all legislation must be weighed in.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte assisterad befruktning eller donationsregister. Närmast liggande principer är att samhällets aktörer ska inta individens perspektiv med barnens rättigheter som det mest betydelsefulla, och att vården ska vila på vetenskap och beprövad erfarenhet. Att utreda ett nationellt register som hindrar att fler barn än tillåtet får samma donator följer av dessa principer, samtidigt som planens krav på integritetsprövning av all lagstiftning måste vägas in.
- child rights perspectivedecisive»Samhällets aktörer ska inta individens perspektiv. Av största betydelse är då barnens rättigheter och perspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Actors in society shall adopt the individual's perspective. Of paramount importance are children's rights and perspective.”
- care based on scientific grounds»God vård och omsorg i hela landet, baserad på vetenskap och beprövad erfarenhet« (party programme ↗)“Good healthcare and social services throughout the country, based on science and proven experience”
- the child's right is valued»Särskilt viktigt är att värna varje barns rätt att bli respekterad och att bli sedd för den man är.« (party programme ↗)“Particularly important is to value every child's right to be respected and seen for who they are.”
- integrity review of legislationweak support»All lagstiftning bör prövas mot dess påverkan på människors personliga integritet.« (party programme ↗)“All legislation should be tested against its impact on people's personal integrity.”
flags: citat_svagt
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan is open to assisted reproduction and surrogacy but wants care to be provided on a scientific basis and that children's rights according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child are clear.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan is open to assisted reproduction and surrogacy but wants care to be provided on a scientific basis and that children's rights according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child are clear. A register that prevents more than allowed children from having the same donor protects precisely the child's right to know their origin and keeps the regulatory framework functioning. The plan however does not take a position on any donor register, so the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen är öppen för assisterad befruktning och värdmödraskap men vill att vården ges på vetenskaplig grund och att barns rättigheter enligt barnkonventionen är tydliga. Ett register som hindrar att fler barn än tillåtet får samma donator skyddar just barnets rätt att veta sitt ursprung och håller regelverket verksamt. Planen tar dock inte ställning till något donatorregister, varför slutsatsen är härledd.
- Convention on the Rights of the Child as lawdecisive»Genom att FN:s barnkonvention införlivats i svensk lag tydliggörs« (party programme ↗)“By incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Swedish law is clarified”
- regulated surrogacy»Vi vill möjliggöra altruistiskt värdmödraskap här i Sverige« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to enable altruistic surrogacy here in Sweden”
- care on scientific basis»Vård, behandling och rehabilitering av fysiska och psykiska sjukdomar ska ges på vetenskaplig« (party programme ↗)“Care, treatment and rehabilitation of physical and mental illnesses shall be provided on a scientific”
- children's rights as individuals»Barn och ungdomar har rätt att respekteras som individer och i takt med åldern få ta ett ökande« (party programme ↗)“Children and youth have the right to be respected as individuals and with age get to take an increasing”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme establishes that every child has the right to know their origin and that the natural process shall be pursued in assistance for infertility.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that every child has the right to know their origin and that the natural process shall be pursued in assistance for infertility. A national register of gamete donors makes it possible to control exactly this and prevents more children than permitted from receiving the same donor. The plan therefore supports that the question of a register is investigated, with the requirement that the information is treated as genetic personal registers with confidentiality protection.
Original (Swedish)
Principprogrammet slår fast att varje barn har rätt till kännedom om sitt ursprung och att det naturliga förloppet ska eftersträvas vid hjälp mot barnlöshet. Ett nationellt register över könscellsdonatorer gör just detta möjligt att kontrollera och hindrar att fler barn än tillåtet får samma donator. Planen stöder därför att frågan om ett register utreds, med kravet att uppgifterna behandlas som genetiska personregister med sekretesskydd.
- the child's right to origindecisive»Varje barn har rätt till kännedom om sitt ursprung« (party programme ↗)“Every child has the right to know their origin”
- natural process in infertility assistance»Vid hjälp mot barnlöshet bör det naturliga förloppet eftersträvas så långt möjligt.« (party programme ↗)“In assistance for infertility, the natural process should be pursued as far as possible.”
- children are a gift, not a right»gåva att kunna få barn – inte en rättighet« (party programme ↗)“a gift to be able to have children – not a right”
- confidentiality for genetic registers»genetiska personregister och ska behandlas med sekretesskydd« (party programme ↗)“genetic personal registers and shall be treated with confidentiality protection”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan says nothing about a register of gamete donors, but it lifts children's development as society's most important investment and wishes to modernize family policy according to how people actually form families.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about a register of gamete donors, but it lifts children's development as society's most important investment and wishes to modernize family policy according to how people actually form families. A register that prevents more children than allowed from having the same donor answers the responsibility to secure children's interests. The stance is therefore derived from nearby principles.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger inget om ett register över könscellsdonatorer, men den lyfter barns utveckling som samhällets viktigaste investering och vill modernisera familjepolitiken efter hur människor faktiskt bildar familj. Ett register som hindrar att fler barn än tillåtet får samma donator svarar mot ansvaret att säkra barnens intressen. Ställningstagandet är därför härlett ur närliggande principer.
- children's best in focusdecisive»Samhällets viktigaste investering för framtiden är barns utveckling.« (party programme ↗)“Society's most important investment for the future is children's development.”
- modern family legislation»Se till att all familjelagstiftning är könsneutral« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Ensure that all family legislation is gender-neutral”
- openness in fertility matters»Verka för att altruistiskt surrogatmoderskap ska vara möjligt i Sverige« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work to make altruistic surrogacy possible in Sweden”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan states that the child, when it cannot grow up with its biological parents, in any case has the right to information about who they are, and that the child's best interests shall be considered in all situations.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that the child, when it cannot grow up with its biological parents, in any case has the right to information about who they are, and that the child's best interests shall be considered in all situations. A national register of gamete donors prevents more children than allowed from having the same donor and strengthens the possibility of knowing one's origin, which follows from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att barnet, när det inte kan växa upp med sina biologiska föräldrar, i alla fall har rätt att få information om vilka de är, och att barnets bästa ska beaktas i alla situationer. Ett nationellt register över könscellsdonatorer motverkar att fler barn än tillåtet får samma donator och stärker möjligheten att veta sitt ursprung, vilket följer av dessa åtaganden.
- child's right to its origindecisive»möjligt skall barnet i alla fall ha rätt att få information om vilka de biologiska föräldrarna« (party programme ↗)“possible the child should in any case have the right to information about who the biological parents are”
- child's best interests as starting point»Sverigedemokraternas familjepolitik är att barnens bästa skall beaktas i alla situationer« (party programme ↗)“Sweden Democrats' family policy is that the child's best interests shall be considered in all situations”
- child's best interests»Att barnets bästa alltid ska beaktas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That the child's best interests shall always be considered”
- quality and legal certainty»Öka kvalité och rättssäkerhet i utredningar om barn« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase quality and legal certainty in investigations concerning children”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
Share and embed
Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:SoU16)
- Committee report full text (HB01SoU16)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1122 — Organdonationer av Helena Storckenfeldt (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1179 — Vård och stöd under graviditet och förlossning av Jim Svensk Larm (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1192 — Assisterad dödshjälp av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1273 — Utredning om dödshjälp - rätten att själv bestämma när och hur man vill avsluta sitt liv av Kristina Axén Olin (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1424 — Rutinmässig kontroll av diabetes typ 2 av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1440 — Obligatoriskt ställningstagande till organdonation av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1449 — Ökad möjlighet till blodgivning av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1468 — Organstöld av Markus Wiechel och Alexander Christiansson (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1482 — Stärkt vård för kvinnor i klimakteriet av Louise Thunström och Jessica Rodén (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1514 — Säkrad förlossningsvård av Jessica Rodén och Louise Thunström (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1614 — Tillsättning av en utredning om gråzoner i livets slutskede inklusive dödshjälp av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1627 — Lika villkor för alla blodgivare av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1659 — Sällsynta diagnoser av Alexandra Völker (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1881 — En ny könstillhörighetslag, ett tredje juridiskt kön och könsmarkören X i pass av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1898 — Sjukdomen noma av Mats Wiking (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1990 — Bättre vård efter förlossning av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2063 — En kvalitativ cancervård i framkant av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2064 — En jämlik diabetesvård i hela landet av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2066 — Astma- och allergivården i Sverige av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2074 — Sällsynta sjukdomar och särläkemedel av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament