5 Towards an Understanding of Embryo Donation ... 119become old enough to participate in research efforts. As part of the first
author’s research (Goedeke 2014 ), interviews were conducted with 22
donors, 15 recipients, and all nine counsellors involved in the facilita-
tion of ED in New Zealand. One aspect of donors’ and recipients’ expe-
riences—namely, the manner in which they invest in, and manage, the
significance of the genetic ties between donors and offspring—has been
highlighted elsewhere by the authors (Goedeke et al. 2015 ), in addition
to a separate discussion of the views and experiences of the counsellors
who assume an integral role in the ED process (Goedeke et al. 2016 ).
This chapter will provide an overview of some of the key findings of
the experiences of donors and recipients, and highlight how ED is thus
understood and experienced as a relational practice.
Views of the Embryo and Decision-Making
Making decisions about the fate of surplus embryos is a tricky and
emotionally laden process, as is widely reported in the international lit-
erature (de Lacey 2005 , 2007a; Frith et al. 2011 ; Fuscaldo et al. 2007 ;
Hammarberg and Tinney 2006 ; Newton et al. 2007 ; Paul et al. 2010 ;
Provoost et al. 2011 ). ED decision-making is frequently linked to the
way in which potential donors perceive their embryos. In our New
Zealand study, donors spoke of the personal value of the embryos,
describing them as ‘hard won’, having involved physical, emotional, and
financial resources and often having taken a significant time to achieve.
They thus had a considerable attachment to their embryos and wanted
to see them used and valued in some way. As in several other studies
(Hammarberg and Tinney 2006 ; Laruelle and Englert 1995 ; Lyerly
et al. 2010 ; Provoost et al. 2011 ) discarding embryos was regarded as
wasteful and almost disrespectful. Yet, in the New Zealand context,
the only options available to those with surplus embryos is to use them
themselves, or apply to donate them to others.
As donation for research purposes is currently not available in New
Zealand, it is important to consider what views about the meaning and
appropriate use of embryos may implicitly be communicated through
regulatory frameworks (de Lacey et al. 2010 ). Indeed, the HART Act’s
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