In vitro fertilisation for all?: Fertility treatment may be an economic blessing

doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7425.1226

BMJ 2003;327:1226 (22 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7425.1226

Letter

In vitro fertilisation for all?

Fertility treatment may be an economic blessing

The first 100% of the full text of this article appears below.

EDITOR—Ashcroft in his editorial and the National Institutefor Clinical Excellence in its consultation document avoid thequestion of how the value of in vitro fertilisation can be measuredboth in absolute terms and relative to other health spendingpriorities.^1
2

When we read and hear of children born as the result of in vitrofertilisation we should not think, "There's another £15000 gone." But rather, "There's another couple whose distresshas been relieved and who have the opportunity to experiencethe love and fulfilment of children; there's another human beingwho has been given the opportunity to live a life; and, there'sanother person to pay the taxes for our healthcare and pensionswhen we retire."

Jonathan H West, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist

Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Devon EX1 2ED jw@fertilitypc.com

Competing interests: JHW hopes that there will be enough childrenin the future to pay for his healthcare and pension when heretires.

Ashcroft RE. In vitro fertilisation for all? BMJ 2003;327: 511-2. (6 September.)[Free Full Text]
National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Fertility: assessment and treatment for people with fertility problems. London: NICE, 2003. (NICE guideline, second draft for consultation.) (www.nice.org.uk/pdf/Fertility_Fullguideline_2ndconsultation.pdf)