Payments for egg and sperm donors are being suggested to discourage people looking overseas for fertility treatment.
Dr Richard Fisher of Fertility Associates in Auckland says one couple a week that come to his practice went overseas for in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
This was due to long waiting lists in New Zealand, where paying egg and sperm donors is illegal.
``The view of our patients would be that being able to pay their donors would make their lives infinitely easier. And I don't have any concerns about commodification - I feel that people understand the emotion involved in donating,'' he told the New Zealand Herald.
Another fertility doctor, Guy Gudex, said there was no evidence more donations resulted from payments, but he said New Zealand needed to hold a public debate.
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