(Except clauses 4, 11, 14 and 23, schedule 2, and any new clauses or new schedules relating to the termination of pregnancy by registered medical practitioners) - Schedule 6
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords]
1:00 pm
John Pugh (Shadow Minister, Treasury; Southport, Liberal Democrat)
In the previous sitting, the Minister mentioned the pre-screening of embryos and that type of thing. She made a perfectly valid point, but I think that she would recognise that many diseases for which there is a genetic predisposition cannot be properly screened for, certainly at the embryo stage. Also, over the 18 years before the child can make inquiries about his genetic background, there might be other discoveries that link genetic factors with illness. It is therefore not a complete answer to say that the embryo that is the subject of in vitro fertilisation is privileged in that respect. It will be privileged in some respects, but there will still be a problem.