The BMA's annual representative meeting

If last year's ethical issue was euthanasia this year's was the beginning of life - and it proved less contentious than euthanasia. Dr Stuart Horner, chairman of the BMA's medical ethics committee, said that the committee had tried to steer a cautious course in responding to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's request for evidence on egg donation. In considering the harvesting of eggs after death he said there was a crucial difference between somatic and germ line organs. “If I give you my kidney it dies with you. If my daughter gives her eggs or ovaries the transplant will continue on into future generations.” His committee thought that distinction was sufficiently important for women to be asked to give specific consent and not simply on a donor card.

Dr Caroline Marriott (council) thought that women were as capable of making a judgment about their ovaries as about their kidneys or corneas. Having accepted that egg and gamete donation was acceptable, then the only issue was one of consent. She agreed that fertility treatment was special, but “Let's not make it so special that we reduce its availability.” The meeting agreed and passed a motion accepting that salvaging ovaries from women who had died was ethically acceptable and that donor cards should include this option.