Understanding Reimbursements and Altruistic Donations in Canada

In Canada, the law prohibits the purchase of sperm or eggs from a donor. Instead, the standard practice involves donors "donating" altruistically, with the possibility of receiving reimbursement for incurred expenses. Donors are not obligated to cover expenses out of their own pockets, but they are allowed to do so if they wish.

One question that occasionally arises is whether recipients (intended parents) must reimburse donors for their expenses or if donors can choose to cover the costs themselves. In most cases, donors do not personally finance the donation process. Typically, the intended parents, who are the individuals receiving the donated sperm or eggs, provide reimbursement for any eligible expenses incurred by the donor.

However, it's essential to acknowledge that some donors may opt not to accept reimbursement. They might have concerns or questions about this arrangement, wondering whether it poses any issues. The straightforward answer is that it does not. In fact, it is entirely acceptable for donors to choose not to receive reimbursement for their expenses. This decision is a matter of personal choice and comfort.

In certain instances, donors may feel hesitant or uneasy about directly requesting reimbursement for their expenses. This reluctance often stems from a desire to maintain a positive and altruistic spirit throughout the process. In such cases, intended parents often establish systems or contractual agreements through agencies or other formalized plans to determine and facilitate reimbursements. One practical workaround is for the donor to upload receipts to a shared cloud drive, such as DropBox, whereby the intended parents can access and review without the donor ever experiencing the discomfort of asking to be paid back.

This approach helps alleviate the need for donors to initiate discussions about reimbursements directly. In essence, the intention is to create a seamless and respectful process that respects the wishes of all parties involved. It is crucial to understand that declining reimbursements is not viewed as a problem within this framework.