Parliament yesterday passed a law which would allow single women, as well as homosexual couples, to have access to donor eggs and donor sperm for the purpose of artificial insemination.
According to the law, single women and lesbian couples who contend with infertility may now have access to donor sperm and donor eggs, which can subsequently be used for artificial insemination. Previously, the law did not permit single women, female couples, or women who had not tried using the sperm of their husbands or living partners to undergo this procedure. The bill does not expect that additional funds from the budget will be necessary for this law to be in effect.
Þuríður Bachman, chairperson of the parliamentary health committee, told Vísir that the law protects equality among women, whether they are straight, gay or single and living alone, just as in other facets of life. She adds that the law opens up a discussion regarding the right of the child to know its biological parents, adding that the committee will support such a discussion.