Labour MP urges IVF rules

The Labour Party's social affairs spokesman, Michael Farrugia is urging the government to regulate artificial fertilisation as soon as possible, in the face of a Vatican edict against the practice.

The issue should not be about what the Church wants but what the country needs, he said, adding that in vitro fertilisation is an important scientific achievement that should be looked at very positively as a second option for those couples who cannot have children.

"But it should be regulated because the law of the jungle is not acceptable," he added, urging the government to move legislation as soon as possible.

The government also seems to be on a similar wavelength but has not been clear on where it stands.

Social Policy Minister John Dalli had said that "this is not something that can be taken lightly" adding that the issue should continue being discussed within the Social Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives.

Contacted yesterday, the Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Joe Cassar only said he was still waiting for proposals by the Bioethics Consultative Committee.

Dr Farrugia's call follows similar comments made by three bioethical experts including committee chairman Michael Asciak, bioethicist Pierre Mallia and Fr Peter Serracino Inglott.

Fr Serracino Inglott said the state should allow practices that are considered to be immoral without making them a crime.

"If every sin was made a crime, we would have a totalitarian government, which is the opposite of what a government should be," he said.

IVF involves the fertilisation of egg cells by sperm outside the womb.

Since embryos may be discarded during this process and since it can be used outside of the sacred union of marriage, the Church opposes it.

"Such fertilisation is in itself illicit and in opposition to the dignity of procreation and of the conjugal union, even when everything is done to avoid the death of the human embryo," reads a Vatican document on the respect for human life.

In July 2005, Parliament's Social Affairs Committee had published its recommendations on the use of biotechnology, genetic technology and assisted fertilisation following an eight-month discussion but they were never translated into law.

Dr Farrugia insisted yesterday that the country is already very late because IVF is happening here without the legislation in place. This could lead to a situation that could be abused.

Malta had to set up the necessary legislation to ensure that IVF is carried out in a safe and regulated manner, rather than a free for all, he argued.

He said criminalisation of IVF was out of the question and the ideal situation would be to have clear directives to regulate the practice.

Dr Farrugia added that, following the months of discussion within the Social Affairs Committee, when a lot of information on the subject was compiled, the minister responsible, in this case Mr Dalli, now had to present some policy proposals for further discussion.

But Dr Farrugia fears that, as usually happens, the people responsible are tiptoeing on the issue due to a lack of political will and the fear of stepping on someone's foot, in this case, the Church.

"The question is not whether IVF should be regulated but how. Everyone agrees with IVF. Or at least, I believe that everyone should agree with it," he argued.

Dr Farrugia said the Labour Party was willing to contribute by helping to come up with the proposals or by discussing the ones that are issued.

cperegin@timesofmalta.com