Fertilisation and embryology bill:
Conception and conscience
(sz) Britain has been spared the culture wars that beset America. Most of the time there is sufficient distance between religion and politics to allow individual consciences to breathe. But next week MPs will consider a clutch of issues concerning the beginnings of human life. In scrutinising the human fertilisation and embryology bill, the Commons will debate conception, termination and medical assistance for people who need it to have a baby. The series of parliamentary votes will come in quick succession, but each will raise different moral questions that need to be disentangled.
Abortion is the most familiar of the issues, though no less controversial for that. It does not feature in the bill, but amendments will be tabled to cut the term limit from 24 weeks. Late abortions are a horrible business, and there are people on all sides of the house who want to restrict them, including David Cameron and his health spokesman Andrew Lansley. But change must be resisted. The tiny minority of abortions taking place after 20 weeks tend to arise because of medical problems or family breakdown. Women wrestling with the undoubted ethical dilemmas involved do not need to be second-guessed by the law - and especially not when new research concludes that science is not making foetuses of 20 or 22 weeks any more viable. To his credit, Mr Lansley couples his position to other reforms that could make it more straightforward to get an abortion quickly, which might reduce the need for late terminations. Others, however, see cutting the limit as the first step in a longer campaign to deny all women a choice.
When it comes to creating embryos for specific purposes, the science has moved a long way since the legal framework was established 18 years ago. more…
From: »The Guardian«