Fertility Donor Debate, UK

Main Category: Fertility
Article Date: 28 Jul 2009 - 10:00 PDT

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Dr Gedis Grudzinskas the UK-based fertility expert issued the following statement in response to the statement by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority:

1)The term, fertility tourism trivialises the reality of poor and inadequate providing of services in UK.

People seek cross border medical care for these reasons and only these reasons. Given the decline in health service in the public sector and escalating costs in the independent sector,it is natural to seek cost-effectiveness, or if you like value for money in all aspects of our lives including health care be it infertility or orthopaedic surgery.

2)The donor anonymity issue will not go away and it will continue to compromise our ability to interest women and men to make their gametes available before the fertility treament of less fortunate couples.In Italy the restrictive law was not changed but another law permitting a more liberal approach was achieved by pressure on the Government. If it is possible in Italy, then why not here. A simple opt in/out clause is all that is required to remove the greatest latest barrier to sperm and egg donation.....

3)Payment/compensation for donors is practised safely and effectively in a number of counties so once again,why not here.The regulator has finally acknowledged that payment in kind has bee practised for several years, setting the financial benchmark for "donor" eggs. The next step, although apparently bold, is not a big one to take.

Source
Fertility Focus