Schedule 4
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords]
2:30 pm
Mark Simmonds (Shadow Minister, Health; Boston and Skegness, Conservative)
I have one or two questions for the Minister about counselling and the circumstances in which it should be offered. I certainly do not believe that counselling should be mandatory, but it should be offered and it should be effective. It is important that counselling is provided by skilled professionals who are experienced in such matters, so I have some questions.
Do counsellors working in this field have specialised training or expertise, or are they counsellors in other areas as well? Is there a division between counsellors who work with people undergoing treatment and counsellors who work with those who have donated gametes? Are they different kinds of counsellors who require different training, or do they come from the same generic group of individuals? Is there any charge for the counselling service? If so, is it merely a charge to recoup the costs, or is it a revenue-generating exercise as well? Finally, are the guidelines set by the HFEA, or is it up to each individual clinic to set its own guidelines?