AD warns against restricting IVF to appease PM's 'ultra-conservative core'

Alternattiva Demokratika - the Green party, has warned that restricting embryo freezing in the name of 'religious conscience' will render in vitro fertilisation "virtually inaccessible" to a wide range of people who need the treatment.

Referring to statements by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi on the proposal of oocyte vitrification - the freezing of ova - instead of embryo freezing to circumvent problems of conscience on IVF, AD said such a law would restrict IVF to people who "do not fit into the preconceived and restrictive views of who should be considered responsible enough to raise children."

"Those who push forward the idea that a person would chose to undergo such treatment capriciously is wrong and insulting to people who really wish to conceive," AD secretary-general Ralph Cassar said.

Cassar added that AD's position is that laboratory and medical practices should be regulated to safeguard the health of the patient and avoid complications. "Restricting IVF so much that the procedure becomes too difficult or using regulation to pass misplaced and uncalled moral judgement on the infertile person who resorts to the medical profession for help, amounts to an attempt at social engineering."

Cassar said the proposed law is already very restrictive and any further restrictions "to please the Prime Minister's ultra-conservative power base" will effectively mean a ban on IVF.

Prof. Arnold Cassola, AD spokesperson on EU and International Affairs, added that there are already very serious laws adopted in various EU countries on IVF.

"The Select Committee in parliament, composed of the three doctors-parliamentarians Jean Pierre Farrugia, Michael Farrugia, and Frans Agius, had unanimously agreed on a draft law based on existing European legislation. Why is government now throwing their work down the drain and making things much more restrictive?"