Calls for fertility watchdog to be scrapped

Main Category: Fertility
Article Date: 10 Dec 2004 - 15:00 PDT

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The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) should be scrapped, a leading fertility expert has claimed.

Robert Winston has labelled the HFEA "incompetent" and "poorly organised" and has called for it to be abolished.

Lord Winston said the HFEA was "not giving out proper public information" and should be replaced with a body that is less bureaucratic and more focused on research.

Speaking on the Today programme, the documentary presenter admitted that scrapping the HFEA "may be extreme", but added, "Now is the time for Parliament to revise what is happening."

"We boast of being liberal and we boast that this is a model for other countries to follow, but the fact is no other country in Europe, having looked at the British system, has adopted it," he explained.

"You have to ask the question why? And I think it's because basically it's not seen to be a very good system."

Suzi Leather, chairman of the HFEA, defended its work and said the authority still had an important role to play.
http://www.hda-online.org.uk

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