The government should stop “procrastinating” on the IVF issue, and instead introduce a fair and ethical policy, Alternattiva Demokratika said yesterday.

The state should not be held hostage by the fundamentalist lobby that resorts to confessional tactics to demonise those favouring such a policy, chairman Michael Briguglio said.

“The truth is that a lack of such policies means hundreds of people are being denied the right to be parents or are being forced to resort to procreation methods that have health risks.

“Malta should decide whether it is a European country or whether it is to allow fundamentalists to dictate social policies.”

AD general secretary Ralph Cassar said the government’s procrastination in enacting IVF legislation based on “very cautious and mild proposals” by the parliamentary committee on assisted procreation was irresponsible and let vulnerable people be subjected to dangerous ­practices.

Campaigns that try to peddle the freezing of the minimum necessary number of embryos for safe IVF as ‘freezing a live baby’ are irresponsible, disrespectful and downright misleading, he said.

Last month Gozo Bishop Mario Grech launched a scathing attack on IVF, describing it as “a highly abortive” technique.