Fertility professionals' response to Science and Technology Committee's report on Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law
24 March 2005
The British Fertility Society (BFS)1, on behalf of its members
- health professionals in the field of fertility services and reproductive
medicine - welcomes the report from the science and technology
committee.
The general themes of the report summary are consistent with the
BFS’s ideals of evidence-based decision-making in reproductive
medicine and the need to review the regulatory processes to normalise
the field of fertility within UK medical services.
The BFS will consider a detailed response to the Committee’s
report in due course.
Specifically now, in response to the issues raised:
The selection and screening of embryos - The opinions of the membership
of the BFS reflect the views of society as a whole with individual
members holding mixed personal views on the acceptability of embryo
screening (including sex selection).
Gamete donor anonymity - The BFS welcome steps towards openness
in fertility treatment but have concerns about the effects of the
removal of anonymity on donor fertility services in the UK. The
BFS remains committed to working with the Department of Health
and the National Gamete Donation Trust to raise public awareness
of the need for egg and sperm donors. However, the BFS is monitoring
the effect of the changes in legislation on treatment services.
Regulation - The BFS welcomes the Select Committee’s decision
to endorse the general view of the professional bodies that the
regulatory and policy making functions of the HFEA should be separated.
Use of clinical data - The removal of the current restrictions
on data related to infertility treatments will enable more detailed
evaluations on the outcome of treatment to be undertaken. We welcome
the call for more public funds to carry out this kind of research.
Human reproductive cloning - the BFS feel that a total prohibition
should be maintained. In addition, the weight of public opinion
should contribute to ‘coherent argument’ in this case.
Welfare of the child - The society agrees with the Select Committee
Report that the current Welfare of the Child assessments potentially
discriminates against the infertile couple.
Alison Murdoch, Chair of the British Fertility Society, said: “Fifteen
years ago IVF was a novel treatment and not generally accepted.
In 2005, nearly 2% of all babies born in the UK are conceived with
the help of assisted reproductive technologies. NICE recommendations,
supported by the government, place the responsibility for the provision
of IVF treatment alongside other medical treatments receiving NHS
funding. It is appropriate, therefore, that regulation is more
consistent with that applied to other clinical treatments. The
Select Committee takes us a step further in this direction.”
For more information: please contact the British Fertility Society press office
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