An Embryonic Disaster in the U.K.

A controversial new bill is heading to the House Of Commons this spring. I will be in London next month, attending this conference, and hope to learn more about the efforts to oppose the contentious issues in the new bill:

Contentious issues in the new bill

Animal-human hybrids
Scientists will be allowed to create embryos which are half-human and half-animal by mixing animal and human sperm and eggs. The embryos will be allowed to live for only 14 days and will be used for experiments which scientists hope may lead to treatments for disease.

Saviour siblings
It will become legal for fertility doctors to screen embryos to choose one which is a tissue match for an existing sibling who has a disease and could benefit from a donation of stem cells, bone marrow or even part of an organ.

Designer babies
It will become legal for doctors to screen out embryos which have disabilities and implant only those free of disease. The law prohibits selecting a disabled embryo if healthy ones are available. But deaf groups want the law amended to allow them to select children who cannot hear.

Fathers not needed
The act would remove the requirement for fertility doctors to consider a child’s “need for a father” when offering treatment to single women or lesbian couples. Campaigners say this sends a message to society that fathers are not important.

Abortion
MPs are planning to introduce an amendment to reduce the upper limit for abortions for social reasons from 24 to 20 weeks.

Artificial sperm and eggs
Another amendment will attempt to permit the use of artificial sperm and eggs in fertility treatment, should such treatment be possible in the future.