Parts of Italy's law on assisted reproduction are ruled unconstitutional

doi:10.1136/bmj.b1447

Published 6 April 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b1447
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b1447

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Parts of Italy’s law on assisted reproduction are ruled unconstitutional

Fabio Turone

¹ Milan

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

The controversial Italian law on assisted reproduction techniques(BMJ 2004;328:9, doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7430.9-a) has been amendedin part by Italy’s Constitutional Court, which has reaffirmedthat the health of the woman must prevail over other considerations.

The court published an outline ruling saying that parts of thecurrent law were contrary to constitutional principles. In particularit ruled as unconstitutional the stipulation that a maximumof three eggs could be fertilised at one time and the obligationthat all fertilised eggs had to be transferred back to the wombat the same time.

The details of the decision will be published in a few weeks.Meanwhile many members of the centre right coalition governmenthave downplayed its practical effects.

Eugenia Roccella, undersecretary for health, told the press:"After this intervention the law is more obscure, but I don’tthink much has changed. We will have to publish, as soon . . . [Full text of this article]

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