The chairman of a Parliamentary committee which considered the issue of assisted procreation has expressed disagreement with comments by the Bishops of Malta and Gozo against the freezing of embryos.
Archbishop Paul Cremona and Bishop Mario Grech in their comments said:
"How can we carry on insisting that children are at the centre of our social and civil life if we condone the freezing of embryos when in other countries, this has ultimately resulted in the killing of embryos? How can we not offer the child who is born solely through technological aids the same ambiance as the child who has been born to a couple who have committed themselves to a stable marriage? Do these embryos, and these children, not also belong to us?
Dr Jean-Pierre Farrugia in comments sent to timesofmalta.com said the bishops also needed to see the other side of the coin.
"The unhealthy status quo without embryo freezing frequently means multiple pregnancies that have resulted in prematurity, death, cerebral palsy and respiratory distress. Aren't these too our children?"
Dr Farrugia said that in declaring that embryos should not be frozen, one also needed to consider what happened afterwards.
In many cases where embryos were not frozen, several embryos were implanted at the same time, with consequent risks while in countries such as the UK, where embryos were frozen to allow a second chance, only two embryos were implanted and if fertilisation did not take place – as happened in 80% of cases - the process was repeated.
Freezing embryos for a second chance also reduced considerable costs and stress for couples who needed to seek IVF treatment.
Dr Farrugia said that while he was in favour of freezing embryos in order to give a second chance for IVF treatment, should the treatment succeed, incentives could be given for the frozen embryos to either be taken by the biological parents, or by other couples.
Indeed, he said, adoption of embryos had its advantages even for the non-biological parents. The gametes forming the embryos would have been medically screened, and, furthermore, the adoptive mother would be given the precious opportunity of actually carrying a baby and giving birth, thus further helping the bonding process.