UK government responds to call for change in reproduction technology
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《英国医生杂志》
Internet based sperm donation services do need to be regulated, the government has accepted, in launching a consultation on its review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act.
It plans to consult on the extent of regulation needed for such online services, as well as on a wide range of other controversial reproduction issues, including the sex selection of embryos, use of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, and welfare of children born through assisted reproduction.
In its response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee's report on human reproductive technologies and the law ( BMJ 2005;330: 745), the Department of Health confirms the government's support for creating embryos for research but rejects any idea of reopening the debate on reproductive cloning, which it describes as unsafe.
"The government concurs with the committee that research using human embryos, including where necessary the creation of embryos for research, can be undertaken subject to appropriate ethical oversight," it said.
In its responses to the 104 recommendations of the select committee's report, the health department says it plans to consult on a wide range of issues affecting regulation and human reproduction technology.
The select committee had raised concerns about the need for regulating sperm donation services to ensure their quality. In its response the health department said, "The government accepts that there is a case for regulating internet sperm donation services to ensure their safety and quality, and in view of anomalies with the legal status of donors and children conceived within licensed services. The government will consult on the extent to which these services should be brought within the scope of regulation."
On sex selection the health department said it is aware of public concerns about the possible use of sex selection techniques for social reasons. "We will seek wider public views on whether sex selection for family balancing purposes should be permitted," it said.
The government will also seek wider public views on acceptable uses of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and preimplantation tissue typing and on the appropriate scope and nature of regulatory intervention. "We agree with the committee that it would be preferable if the parameters for PGD were more clearly set out in law," it said.
It adds that it has no plans to bring forward any proposals that would alter the legal status of the human embryo. Nor are there any plans to remove the ban on placing human embryos in animals.
Whether the age at which people conceived from donated gametes or embryos can ask for information on the donors should be reduced from 18 to 16 years will also be a subject for consultation.
The European Union's tissue directive—aimed at standardising quality and safety requirements in assisted reproduction across all EU countries—will also be introduced into the United Kingdom.
Other issues covered by the consultation, which ends on 25 November, include rules on screening and selecting embryos for medical purposes, the scope for what the government describes as the "lighter touch" regulation of in vitro fertilisation, and the best way to safeguard the welfare of children born after assisted conception.
Launching the consultation, the minister for public health, Caroline Flint, said: "The consultation raises many complex issues on which there are many different and strongly held views. There are important matters of reproductive freedom and responsibility, professional autonomy, and how best to safeguard the welfare of the children."(Roger Dobson)
It plans to consult on the extent of regulation needed for such online services, as well as on a wide range of other controversial reproduction issues, including the sex selection of embryos, use of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, and welfare of children born through assisted reproduction.
In its response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee's report on human reproductive technologies and the law ( BMJ 2005;330: 745), the Department of Health confirms the government's support for creating embryos for research but rejects any idea of reopening the debate on reproductive cloning, which it describes as unsafe.
"The government concurs with the committee that research using human embryos, including where necessary the creation of embryos for research, can be undertaken subject to appropriate ethical oversight," it said.
In its responses to the 104 recommendations of the select committee's report, the health department says it plans to consult on a wide range of issues affecting regulation and human reproduction technology.
The select committee had raised concerns about the need for regulating sperm donation services to ensure their quality. In its response the health department said, "The government accepts that there is a case for regulating internet sperm donation services to ensure their safety and quality, and in view of anomalies with the legal status of donors and children conceived within licensed services. The government will consult on the extent to which these services should be brought within the scope of regulation."
On sex selection the health department said it is aware of public concerns about the possible use of sex selection techniques for social reasons. "We will seek wider public views on whether sex selection for family balancing purposes should be permitted," it said.
The government will also seek wider public views on acceptable uses of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and preimplantation tissue typing and on the appropriate scope and nature of regulatory intervention. "We agree with the committee that it would be preferable if the parameters for PGD were more clearly set out in law," it said.
It adds that it has no plans to bring forward any proposals that would alter the legal status of the human embryo. Nor are there any plans to remove the ban on placing human embryos in animals.
Whether the age at which people conceived from donated gametes or embryos can ask for information on the donors should be reduced from 18 to 16 years will also be a subject for consultation.
The European Union's tissue directive—aimed at standardising quality and safety requirements in assisted reproduction across all EU countries—will also be introduced into the United Kingdom.
Other issues covered by the consultation, which ends on 25 November, include rules on screening and selecting embryos for medical purposes, the scope for what the government describes as the "lighter touch" regulation of in vitro fertilisation, and the best way to safeguard the welfare of children born after assisted conception.
Launching the consultation, the minister for public health, Caroline Flint, said: "The consultation raises many complex issues on which there are many different and strongly held views. There are important matters of reproductive freedom and responsibility, professional autonomy, and how best to safeguard the welfare of the children."(Roger Dobson)