Alternattiva Demokratika ‘disappointed’ at Labour’s failure to contrast IVF legislation

Alternattiva Demokratika, the Green Party, has called on MPs to lift the proposed ban on embryo freezing envisaged in the Embryo Protection Bill which outlaws embryo freezing and instead introduced the freezing of a maximum of two female ova.

In a statement, AD called on MPs to amend the law proposed by the government to regulate IVF to allow the freezing of fertilised cells, expressing disappointment at the Labour opposition's failure to contrast the confessional legislation proposed by the government.

AD recalled that freezing was already foreseen in a report prepared by a parliamentary committee chaired by MP Jean Pierre Farrugia which included the Opposition.

Michael Briguglio, AD chairperson said: "While we welcome scientific developments like the freezing of ova instead of fertilized eggs, we cannot let parents with fertility problems depend on an experimental technology. We insist that they have a right to use technology used in other advanced European countries."

AD also noted Labour's failure to question the proposed discrimination against same sex couples as the law limits the access to IVF to heterosexual couples.

Michael Briguglio stated: "We appeal MPs to present amendments to ensure the new law is not discriminatory and to lift the proposed ban on freezing. The country cannot be held to ransom by a minority of fundamentalists who ignore the advice given by luminaries like the late Peter Serracino Inglott who made it clear that freezing cannot be considered to be a way of killing the embryo since it is keeping it alive."

The Labour Party has announced its full stand on the regulation of in vitro fertilisation in Malta, saying it will not support embryo freezing except in cases of force majeure - but effectively supporting the government's decision to go for the novel science of oocyte vitrification.