From womb to the cradle

The government’s Bill on the protection of the embryo has opened the door to many discussions. The legislation contemplates the value of life, the free choice of couples and the moral and ethical issues surrounding IVF.

During this consultative period I have noted a number of reactions to this Bill mainly surrounding the ethical dilemmas of embryo freezing. While the Bill was largely welcomed with relief by those who understood its relevance, it has also been met with resistance from others, further confusing those who were slowly struggling to understand the implications of it all.

We have now heard it all and read it all... the need to legislate, the reports of the Parliamentary Committee’s discussions on the subject, the various technologies involved, medical experts, bioethics specialists and Church representatives affirming the Church’s position. With the introduction of such a valuable service to be provided by the State on the national health system one would have preferred the debate to be free of partisan comments.

Unfortunately, certain discussions were not so, leaving me wondering about the pain inflicted upon couples who have undergone or are about to undergo these medical interventions.

One month after the publication of the Bill I am confident of two things. Firstly, despite the amount of information on the subject a lot of people are still unclear as to what this legislation is about, tending to confuse emotional and political issues with the reservations of the Church.

Primary or secondary infertility is indiscriminate to couples and this may be difficult to deal with especially when relatives and friends appear to be conceiving without any difficulty.

It is also difficult for these couples to comprehend how our national health service offers such a wide range of medical services for conditions ranging from the very minor to the very major, but has so far been unable to run a fertility service with technologies which have been around in the private sector for many years.

This is discriminatory and the introduction of the service at Mater Dei Hospital will ensure that couples who are unable to pay for this expensive treatment will now enjoy a level playing field.

A specialised fertility clinic has been available at Mater Dei since the building of the hospital and services will be introduced once the law is enacted. This will certainly be a significant moment for our national health service.

Regrettably, armed with little or no information, a number of people are confusing ethics with medics and are resisting this bill.

Admittedly the proposals are still up for discussion and one eagerly waits for the best solutions to be found. The bottom line is that a solution was desperately needed to regulate Malta’s IVF industry.

It will be a feather in the cap of the Nationalist government to proudly announce the introduction of a new health service whereby hope, counselling and assisted interventions are offered to childless couples, paving the way for them to form the family they so much desire.

Secondly, despite the plethora of medical terminology and discussion on embryo freezing or oocyte vitrification, I have yet to see one single person object to the birth of a live, healthy baby. As women our bodies are designed for procreation and when nature lets us down it is comforting to know that medical technology has progressed enough to help us achieve our dream of bearing children. I have met with numerous couples undergoing infertility treatment and their stories of pain, suffering and despair are testament to the love they share as a couple.

Assisted reproduction is no magic wand. It can fail. Sometimes several times. It may bring heartbreak and disappointment.

For some couples, despite many painful attempts, it may never work. But when it does, oh the joy of being told that finally you are pregnant and the excitement of holding your much wanted baby for the first time after so many years of trying to achieve a pregnancy – priceless!

This is a true celebration of life and I have witnessed an entire delivery suite full of midwives, nurses and doctors in tears of joy at the birth of such a wanted and longed for child.

The government’s Bill has been called The Protection of the Embryo. The unborn child may be at the centre of this whole discussion but let us not forget that beyond the success or failure rates of pregnancy we are also dealing with women and their health.

The physical and emotional challenges faced by couples who decide to undergo IVF or any other method of assisted reproduction are enormous and should never be underestimated.

IVF is just one of several techniques available to help couples with fertility problems . All women should seek professional advice from their gynaecologists regarding what options are available. The proposed legislation is a step in the right direction.

info@carolinegalea.com

Caroline Galea is a Nationalist Party candidate