BMA response to new guidance on sperm and egg donation, UK

Main Category: Fertility
Article Date: 08 Oct 2005 - 23:00 PDT

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In its response to the Sperm Egg and Embryo Donation system (SEED) guidance, published today (7 October) by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the BMA broadly supports many aspects of the report and is particularly pleased that payment to donors is being restricted to cover only out of pocket expenses and loss of earnings.

However doctors are concerned about recommendations allowing centres to offer free or reduced price IVF treatment to women who are willing to donate some of their eggs (compensated egg sharing).

Chairman of the BMA Ethics Committee, Dr Michael Wilks, said today:

"While there are strong compassionate reasons for supporting egg sharing, the BMA cannot back this practice because we feel it places unacceptable pressures on women who cannot afford IVF treatment to donate their eggs.

"Given the restricted provision of IVF treatment on the NHS, the offer of free or reduced price treatment, worth thousands of pounds, is a very large inducement which could affect the validity of the woman's consent."

He added:

"We are also concerned about the impact of the removal of anonymity of donors on the practice of egg sharing. In particular, we are worried about women for whom IVF does not work and who remain childless but who may be contacted in the future by people born following their egg donation."

http://www.bma.org.uk

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