BMJ  2007;335:1069 (24 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.39406.478241.DB

News

Controversial embryo bill receives second hearing in Lords

Lynn Eaton

London

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The government's human embryology and fertilisation bill had its second reading in the House of Lords this week, amid concerns that it would enable lesbian couples to have fertility treatment more easily. Some groups have also objected to the fact that it allows the creation of "interspecies embryos" for research purposes.

The bill drops the requirement that fertility specialists, when considering whether a woman is suitable for fertility treatment, have to take account of the need of the child for a father. This has not prevented lesbians from accessing in vitro fertilisation in the past, but its removal will deal with government concerns that the clause could amount to discrimination in the provision of goods and services.

The bill also recognises same sex couples as legal parents, in keeping with changes in the law allowing civil partnerships.

Introducing the bill on Tuesday in the House of Lords, the health minister . . . [Full text of this article]


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This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Emery, S., Burke, T. B., Middleton, A., Belk, R., Turner, G. (2008). Clause 14(4)(9) of embryo bill should be amended or deleted. BMJ 336: 976-976 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Reproductive Liberty and Deafness: Clause 14(4)(9) of the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill should be amended or deleted
Anna Middleton, et al.
bmj.com, 21 Apr 2008 [Full text]
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