The Government is ready to reach a compromise with the Opposition on the question of the Embryo Protection Authority’s certifying of parents for the IVF process, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi told Parliament last night.
Advice of experts showed the need to establish the maximum limit of implanted embryos
The issue is one of the two main points of disagreement between the two sides on the Embryo Protection Bill.
Speaking during the debate in second reading of the Bill, Dr Gonzi said the Government had provided the Opposition with its draft amendments and was waiting for the Opposition’s own amendments to find a solution within 24 hours, so that the House would be able to reach a consensus on “this highly significant Bill”.
However, the Prime Minister said he disagreed with the Leader of the Opposition’s reservations on the number of implanted embryos. Joseph Muscat had suggested that professionals should use their discretion.
But the advice of local and foreign experts and experiences in local hospitals during the last few years showed the need to establish the maximum limit of embryos implanted in one cycle, Dr Gonzi said.
Three local groups, including the association of Maltese paediatricians, had categorically emphasized this point. It would be dangerous to leave this issue to the discretion of professionals.
He noted that the Government and the Opposition agreed on the regulatory and supervisory roles of the authority. They were in agreement that the authority should establish protocols, supervise and investigate any negative reports. The Government could leave out the issue of certificates and build on the integrity of professionals. Licensing of IVF clinics would remain the responsibility of the superintendent of public health.
Earlier, the Prime Minister noted with pleasure that there was consensus on the protection of the embryo because this formed part of the country’s values respecting human life. The major political parties believed in the duty to protect life which began before birth. One should not be afraid to seek consensus on issues dealing with values.
He praised the work that two parliamentary select committees had performed during two legislatures. It had taken years to present the Bill because while Parliament wanted to give childless families the chance to have children, it was embroiled in the controversy surrounding embryo freezing. Scientific advances during the last 10 years provided a solution, thus avoiding the moral dilemma on embryo freezing.
The Government wanted to provide a legal framework to regulate IVF constructively while respecting local values. The framework also protected the health of the mother, the embryo in the womb, and the baby once born. It would help professionals in their mission while avoiding abuse.
Dr Gonzi said that the Bill dealt also with other aspects of moral and ethical principles. It did not seek to over-regulate but wanted to fight abuse.
There was consensus that the fertilisation of eggs should not include ulterior motives other than a woman becoming pregnant. Embryos could not be used for experimentation or implanted into another woman. The choice of embryos for clinical testing was also prohibited, as was surrogate motherhood. Neither cloning nor choosing the sex of the baby was allowed. The use of eggs or sperm after death and mixing of human and animal cells were also prohibited.
Dr Gonzi agreed with the Leader of the Opposition that it was crucial not to leave a vacuum anymore, even though the Bill would not be 100 per cent perfect.
It was the Government’s duty to offer this service free of charge while respecting the service given in private clinics, he concluded.
Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono and Nationalist MPs Beppe Fenech Adami, Francis Zammit Dimech, Charló Bonnici and Stephen Spiteri also contributed to the debate.
Earlier, the House gave a third reading to the Notarial Professions and Notarial Archives (Amendment) Bill and the Explosives Ordinance (Amendment) Bill.