Opposition MP Owen Bonnici has insisted that the question of who would have authority over the embryos of a woman who died before implantation – whether the widower, the heirs or the state – must be answered now, not when pressing circumstances would not allow a serene decision.

One could yet discuss the proposal of whether a relative or any other person could be appointed curator of the unborn baby.

He told Parliament on Wednesday that the Bill was introducing the concept of freezing of embryos only in situations of force majeure, such as when the mother died before implantation. The concept must not be allowed to slip into general use.

Dr Bonnici said the Maltese were living in the European mentality, not in a cotton ball, with the European Court of Human Rights having already pronounced itself on its compassionate wishes for the rights to family life but eventually leaving it to EU member states to regulate through medical science.

The Opposition believed that such a positive service should be offered to the widest range possible, especially to those who could not financially afford to seek private aid.

Each day that had passed without offering this service was a day that went against the principle of social aid and social justice.

He said in a few years’ time he hoped he would be able to look back with satisfaction on a good rate of success with IVF, with the Maltese having been given the alternative to natural child-bearing irrespective of their finances.

But one point had to be hammered home: there could not even be any consideration of money changing hands for the acquisition or adoption of an embryo.