The problem is that he LIED. Big lies. And you know if he told the truth, no parent would risk using his jizz. Sure it can be controlled with proper meds, if they take the meds, most do not, or not consistently enough.
Since the company admits it is honor system and their verification is a crock, then how many other liars have spread their seed?
The lying is a moral issue. Not a medical issue. And while I don't support his deceit given the circumstances, who of us have never lied, even specifically to omit information about ourselves we do not want to share, based on the chance of being unfairly judged or discriminated against or have it used against us with bullying? Its a core human trait, to lie and omit certain facts we don't feel confident or comfortable in sharing. Hanging him out to dry for doing it, is bloody rich, to be honest. I'd love to know just how saintlike all these parents and armchair warriors are, in comparison.
As for 'other liars who have spread their seed', what does that actually entail? Serious genetic issues are screened out, so that's not generally the concern. Everyone lies - so having sperm from a 'liar' means jack shit, just because this guy or someone else may be a convicted criminal, means jack shit. That's not passed on. Moral outrage because someone doesn't lead a pristine life and donates sperm is laughable, frankly.
The idea of parents refusing his sperm as a donor due to the idea of his schizophrenia is based solely on sheer ignorance and is frankly, a highly offensive notion.
The risks are low. Stupidly low. The risk of schizophrenia from a parent to a child is 8%. That means that any children born using this man's sperm, have an 8% chance of it being passed on. 82% will NOT get it. And that isn't even taking the mother's genetics into consideration. 82%. Honestly. Fucking excellent 'odds'.
Secondly, the cause of schizophrenia, along with many mental illnesses is not just biological. You can have a child who has one or both parents with it - and in order for that child to develop it themselves, comes down to a range of factors including the environment they're raised in, sociological factors and their psychological wellbeing during their formative years. Its not just a 'gene thing'.
Just like you can have people who develop schizophrenia without a familial history.
Now, like I mentioned before, there are plenty of genetic conditions that are far scarier to pass on, that cause actual, real limitations to the person suffering from it. Huntingdons Disease for instance. The child has a 50/50 chance there if one or both parents have the gene. That's a horrible condition to have and a much, much higher risk of passing on.
And as I said, reluctance to accept sperm donorship from a man who has schizophrenia is blatantly ignorant. Not only are the risks low, but IF the condition is developed, it is entirely manageable and most patients lead long, successful and happy lives. They won't die a miserable death from it. They won't have a shortened lifespan. They won't have constant pain. They won't have a lower IQ, etc etc etc.
Yes, its wrong that he lied. But it points volumes frankly with the drama that has come about because of it. Because people misunderstood schizophrenia, because mental illness is stigmatised and because people are hopelessly uneducated on the topic and believe the utter horseshit they see, hear and read about schizophrenia in pop culture, entertainment and in society.
Schizophrenia does NOT make someone a freak. Or dangerous. It does not limit the patients ability to have a 'normal' life like any of us. There's no such thing as 'split personalities' either. The condition simply means that when (and only when) the condition is untreated and thus, out of control, the patient can hallucinate, have delusional thoughts and confused thinking.
It does NOT mean they're thinking 'better grab a knife and go stabby mc stab stab on that person standing over there, because they're clearly the leader of the lizard people and stabbing them will uncover the truth about chemtrails!'
One in one hundred people will develop it during their lifetime. Its bloody common. One in 11 adults globally have type 2 diabetes. One in 6 have had or will have, plain old garden variety depression in their lifetime. See? Its common, not some weird condition that only a small % live with.
My issue with this story, is the fact that people are carrying on like pork chop's about this guy 'risking' passing his schizophrenia on. Its not leprosy. Its a common mental health condition that IS entirely manageable and should NOT be treated as something horrifying or shameful.
I am infertile at 33. If I decide to ever have a baby, I'll need a donor egg and a surrogate. And I, honestly, would not decline someone's absolutely beautiful generosity in giving me their eggs so I can experience motherhood, should they have schizophrenia.