IVF – is there too much regulation of reproductive medicine?
The 4th of July marks the end of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority’s consultation into how many embryos should be implanted in women undergoing IVF treatment. Meanwhile a Parliamentary committee is scrutinising the Government’s draft human tissue and embryos bill and is due to complete its report later this month. Among other things, the bill will make changes to the way reproductive medicine and research is regulated. This comes at a time when some scientists and doctors involved in IVF believe that they face too much regulation.
Is the amount of regulation damaging patients’ interests by causing unnecessary bureaucracy, delaying medical advances and pushing up costs of treatment? Or is the current level of regulation vital for safeguarding the welfare of women, babies and wider society? Miriam O’Reilly discusses this with Alison Murdoch, Professor of Reproductive Medicine at Newcastle Fertility Centre, and Sarah Franklin, Professor of Social Studies of Biomedicine at the London School of Economics and Kate Brian who has had IVF and written on the subject.
The Complete Guide to Female Fertility by Kate Brian Published by Piatkus on 27 September 2007 ISBN 13: 9780749927929 and ISBN 10: 0 7499 2792 5 In Pursuit of Parenthood: experiences of IVF by Kate Brian Published by Bloomsbury ISBN: 074753747X
