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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| IVF father figure clause is to go | IVF father figure clause is to go |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The government is to abolish the requirement for fertility clinics to consider the need for a father when deciding whether to offer treatment. | The government is to abolish the requirement for fertility clinics to consider the need for a father when deciding whether to offer treatment. |
| It means clinics will no longer be able to deny treatment to lesbians and single mothers out of hand. | It means clinics will no longer be able to deny treatment to lesbians and single mothers out of hand. |
| A white paper outlining plans for a major overhaul of the law on assisted human reproduction and embryo research is being published. | A white paper outlining plans for a major overhaul of the law on assisted human reproduction and embryo research is being published. |
| It follows a public consultation exercise on the current law. | It follows a public consultation exercise on the current law. |
| The current law, which has served us well, is in need of revision Caroline Flint, health minister Send us your comments | The current law, which has served us well, is in need of revision Caroline Flint, health minister Send us your comments |
| Ministers felt the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 needed to be updated as science has moved on significantly in the last 16 years. | Ministers felt the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 needed to be updated as science has moved on significantly in the last 16 years. |
| Launching the white paper, Health Minister Caroline Flint said: "The current law, which has served us well, is in need of revision. | Launching the white paper, Health Minister Caroline Flint said: "The current law, which has served us well, is in need of revision. |
| "Technology has changed, and so have attitudes." | "Technology has changed, and so have attitudes." |
| Couples are also to be banned from choosing the sex of their baby for non-medical reasons. | Couples are also to be banned from choosing the sex of their baby for non-medical reasons. |
| The proposed change has been criticised in some quarters. | The proposed change has been criticised in some quarters. |
| Josephine Quintavalle, of Comment on Reproductive Ethics, said: "This paper takes on board, almost carte blanche, the libertarian recommendations of the science and technology select committee, with political correctness the highest priority and welfare of children the lowest. | Josephine Quintavalle, of Comment on Reproductive Ethics, said: "This paper takes on board, almost carte blanche, the libertarian recommendations of the science and technology select committee, with political correctness the highest priority and welfare of children the lowest. |
| "We can only hope that Parliament will wisely reject the absurd proposal to do away with the child's need for a father." | "We can only hope that Parliament will wisely reject the absurd proposal to do away with the child's need for a father." |
| Anna Smajdor, researcher in medical ethics at Imperial College London, said: "This document clarifies many areas which were previously hazy or uncertain. | |
| "While the removal of the specific reference to a need for a father is on balance a good thing, it still remains utterly bizarre that fertility clinicians should be responsible for making judgements about the suitability of people to be parents. | |
| "If these judgements are to be made, the criteria need to be specific, and the people responsible for making the judgements should not be those who stand to profit from the treatment." |