A right to know – biological origins of IVF children to be stated on birth certificates
(sz) Children born from donated sperm or eggs will have the information marked on their birth certificates under sweeping changes to fertility laws proposed by an influential group of ministers and peers yesterday (July, 30th – ed.).
The move, designed to bolster childrens’ right to know their origins, is among a raft of far-reaching recommendations the government will consider ahead of its planned reforms of legislation which has been overtaken by science.
The proposals amount to a parliamentary demand for the government to tear up its draft fertility bill, published in May, in favour of a more permissive approach that would see substantial changes in ethically contentious areas, such as the creation of “saviour siblings”, the use of surplus embryos in research and the need for children conceived through IVF treatment to have a legal father figure.
The joint Commons and Lords panel was set up to scrutinise the draft human tissue bill. Over the past two months the committee has taken evidence from 46 witnesses and received more than 100 written submissions. The report from the 18-member panel, published yesterday, said there must be significant changes when the bill is included in the Queen’s Speech in November. more…
From: »Guardian Unlimited«