Stem Cell Research
Letter to all MPs.
As you will be aware, Parliament will be debating the report from
the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) about Stem Cell research quite soon.
The British Fertility Society urges you to support his recommendations.
It is generally acknowledged that research on stem cells derived
from human embryos has the potential to dramatically increase our
understanding of and treatment of many common diseases. All clinical
and research work involving human embryos in the UK is under the
tight control of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
(HFEA). Strict adherence to the HFEA Code of Practice ensures that
the interests of patients, and their potential children, always
remain priorities. All clinical and laboratory procedures involving
human embryos are only permitted if the couple have given prior
informed, written consent. Research on embryos that are not suitable
for infertility treatment and would otherwise be discarded, is considered
to be highly desirable. Already many couples have given consent
for research using their embryos and these embryos are now in storage
awaiting Government approval. It is the expressed wish of these
couples that their embryos are used to progress research in this
area.
The British Fertility Society represents over 800 doctors, scientists,
nurses, counsellors and patients who are principally involved in
the provision of fertility treatment in the UK. The expertise of
these practitioners is an integral part of future stem cell research
since it is spare embryos, created within fertility units, generously
donated by infertile couples, which would be used as a source of
stem cells. The Society has therefore examined all the implications
of this research, both as they affect our patients directly and
as they affect the wider community.
On the basis of these considerations, we strongly support the CMO’s
recommendation to allow research in this area, which we anticipate
will lead to new treatments for many devastating clinical problems.
The public can be reassured that infertile couples will not be disadvantage
by such research.
The Report recommends that an Authority, such as the HFEA, monitor
research on stem cells. This would involve increased expenditure
for the HFEA. Since the majority of the HFEA funds are provided
by a direct tax on fertility treatment, paid for by infertile couples,
we strongly urge that the additional resource for this extra work
for the HFEA be provided centrally. It would be totally inappropriate
for infertile couples to fund stem cell research, as well as their
own fertility treatment and altruistically donating their embryos.
We hope you give these matters your most serious attention.
Signed on behalf of the British Fertility Society,
Dr John Mills
Chairman of the BFS
For more information: please contact the British Fertility Society press office
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