Guarantors of our genes: are egg donors liable for latent genetic disease?

Introduction.........................................................................................406 I. Background: Egg Donation at Law and Related Legal Developments ............................................................................412 A. A Brief History of Egg Donation........................................412 B. Egg Donation in the Courts ...............................................412 C. Regulation of Egg Donation ..............................................415 D. Related Developments at Law............................................417 1. Surrogacy: Regulation and case law ............................418 2. Adoption: Regulation and case law.............................419 3. Sperm Donation: Regulation and case law.................421 4. Blood Donation: Regulation and case law..................423 II. Analysis: Is an Egg Donor Liable for Her Genetic Defects? ...425 A. Human Eggs as Commodities ............................................425 1. Product liability .............................................................430 2. Defenses available to the egg donor ............................432 3. Implied warranties of fitness and merchantability ......435 B. Negligence ..........................................................................436 1. The prima facie negligence case..................................436 a. A duty of care...........................................................436 b. Breach ......................................................................441 c. Causation .................................................................442 d. Injury........................................................................445 2. Defenses available to the egg donor ............................448