The proposal to permit the freezing of fertilised human embryos as part of a possible future law regulating IVF treatment in Malta is both unethical and inconsistent with a pro-life culture, the Gift of Life said.
It said in a statement that the proposal constituted a grave offense against human life in its most fragile stage of development and was morally offensive.
“The principal focus of the report is the medical aspects of providing infertile couples with a viable pregnancy.
“However, it does this without considering the deeply unsettling and highly unethical practices involved in achieving this aim.
“Critically the report fails to take in hand the ramifications of freezing embryos and the predicament that our country will be faced with as a result of this practice if parliament approves such a morally offensive procedure,” it said.
GoL said that as had happened in every other country, the permitting of freezing would lead to situations where masses of excess embryos would sit in storage facilities faced with an uncertain future.
One could not forcibly implant these embryos should infertile couples fall pregnant and then not want to have further children.
To date no country has found a solution for the serious ethical problem of what to do with excess frozen human embryos.
GoL said that although the report’s recommendation for the adoption of unwanted frozen embryos may initially seem to be positive, one had to keep in mind that allowing infertile couples the option to adopt embryos would only come about as a result of the very problem caused by Parliament permitting the production and freezing of excess frozen embryos.
Gift of Life said it failed to see how permitting the legal donation of gametes would solve the principal problem of what to do with the inevitable stockpile of excess frozen human embryos which nobody, possibly not even potential adoptive parents might want to adopt.
Gift of Life maintained that the aspect of the report that recommended freezing contradicted this declaration from the select committee and showed contempt for human life in its most fragile stages of development.
“Human life should to be respected at all stages of development and the value and the dignity of human life should not diminish according to the person’s stage of development.
“Gift of Life are proposing that our Members of Parliament reject the recommendation made in the select committee report to freeze embryos in the process of assisted procreation and seek to enact a future law that both adequately respects human life from conception,” it said.
See also Malta Gay Rights Movement's reaction to report:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101021/local/ivf-proposals-may-breach-human-rights-gay-movement