Pressure stepped up on embryo research

Article Abstract:

On April 23, 1990 the Members of Parliament vote on alternatives of the Human Fertilization and Embryology Bill. One alternative follows the 1984 Warnock Report, which allows regulated research to be done with embryos up to 14 days after conception, while the other alternative would make embryonic research a criminal offense. The lobby for research claims a ban on research with human embryos would prevent developments in the treatment of infertility, contraception and the diagnosis and treatment of inherited diseases. The House of the Lords has recently voted in favor of research by a margin of nearly three to one. However, it is felt that the peers of the House of the Lords are more informed about the nature of the research than the Members of Parliament. The Medical Research Council and the Royal Society have been contacting Members of Parliament explaining the scientific facts and the medical benefits that would come from the research. Such lobbying is unusual for government-funded organizations. There is also opposition to the government's addition of a clause on abortion to the bill, which would lower the upper time limit for abortion from 28 to 24 weeks. It is felt that the debates concerning abortion will be included in the debates about embryo research, even though the discussion on abortion are slated to begin the following day. There is no international consensus on embryo research. In Belgium and the United States, there are no legal restrictions on embryo research, but the United States does not fund the research. Sweden allows research to be done on embryos up to 14 days after conception. In West Germany, a bill banning embryo research is expected to be passed into law in the near future. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Medical research, Abortion

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IVF: regulation or prohibition?

Article Abstract:

More than 20,000 individuals have been conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques since the first in vitro conception in 1978. There are 38 IVF centers licensed in Great Britain, which are regulated by the Voluntary Licensing Authority. More than 50 research projects have been approved, most of which concern increasing the success rate of IVF. The work has led to an increased understanding of infertility and of embryo loss. Other IVF research projects include methods of diagnosing single-gene defects, such as cystic fibrosis, thalassemia, or Duchenne muscular dystrophy, in the artificially fertilized egg when it contains only eight to 16 cells, before it is implanted into the uterine wall. The Human Fertilization and Embryology Bill which is coming before parliament in December 1989 calls for a Statutory Licensing Authority to oversee IVF. The new authority would operate as the old authority does now, but would also have statutory powers. Research cannot be done on a fertilized egg that is older than 14 days. This time limitation was set to allow further research on IVF but not on other aspects of embryology. IVF research is controversial, as it involves the ethical issue concerning when life begins. Other issues surrounding IVF include high costs and fear of genetic manipulation of human eggs. However, the existing authority has stated that none of these manipulation experiments would be considered, hence the regulations, licensing authorities, inspectors and surveillance of IVF research. However, IVF research should not be prohibited. The consequences of ending IVF research are that clinical applications and improvements in success rates would be slowed, which would have an unfortunate effect upon infertile couples and carriers of genetic diseases.

Diagnosis, Genetic disorders

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Deciding about embryo research

Article Abstract:

In November 1989, the British government passed the Embryo Bill, which states that a license is required for all procedures involving in vitro ('test tube') fertilization of human eggs. Any such procedure performed without a license will constitute a criminal offense. The bill also states that records of contributors to sperm banks be kept so that genetic information about individuals conceived by artificial insemination will be available. Another issue before the British parliament is whether researchers should be able to study embryos up to 14 days after conception. The Royal Society believes that research with embryos should continue and is meeting with parliament to voice its opinion. It is the editorial opinion of this journal, Nature, that it is neither necessary nor wise to have a time limitation of 14 days written in the legislation. Legislation with a time limitation will be difficult to change if the time limitation is shown to be too strict. There are other defects in the bill, including the presence of too many members on the authority committee. The committee is to report every other year, which is too infrequent. The database of donors for in vitro fertilization will contain sensitive and potentially damaging information. Although there are penalties for breach of confidentiality, they should be stricter. The current proposal mandates up to two years in prison for people who disclose information and 10 years for breaching the legislation on practice and research. These issues will require careful consideration and it is hoped that they do not get confused with the issue of abortion.

Political activity, Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge

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