More than 500 doctors have denounced the consultation over controversial changes to the law regulating in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, saying the debate only served to “compromise” embryo protection even further.
They noted that compared to the original version, the revised changes to the IVF Bill will provide for an even higher number of embryos that could remain frozen indefinitely.
This scathing evaluation was made by Doctors For Life, a group that includes 524 medical doctors, who this month signed a declaration against the government’s plan for the introduction of embryo freezing.
The introduction of a late amendment to increase the number of embryos formed in the first cycle, will result in a greater number of frozen embryos
Despite opposition from pro-life groups and former Labour Cabinet members, Parliament is tomorrow expected to give the go-ahead for the procedure, as the IVF Bill will be put to the vote at third and final reading stage.
However, President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca will have the final say as under the Maltese Constitution a Bill cannot become law unless it is signed by the Head of State. Though some have speculated that Ms Coleiro Preca harbours reservations on this Bill, no Maltese President has ever exercised such right.
Read: President to propose to minister to seek AG's advice on constitutionality of IVF Bill
The government felt compelled to hold a consultation process in the wake of the ‘appeal’, which the President had made for further reflection on the changes.
In a statement, Doctors For Life yesterday accused Health Minister Chris Fearne of having “reneged on his assurances to them” that the proposed IVF protocol would not create an excess of surplus embryos.
“The introduction of a late amendment to increase the number of embryos formed in the first cycle, will result in a greater number of frozen embryos. This will make it more difficult for all these embryos to be implanted or adopted, leading to the possibility that some of them will be indefinitely frozen,” the doctors said.
They also said that the amendment had taken them by surprise.
“At no point during the consultation suggested by the President, was this critical amendment mentioned, and contrary to a spirit of genuine consultation, its introduction at the conclusion of this process seems to have been intended to avoid any discussion or opposition,” the NGO added.
Doctors For Life expressed deep disappointment that rather than address their concerns the consultation process only served to make the situation worse.
“It is a shame that a Bill already weakening the protection of the embryo was further compromised by the very consultation that was meant to strengthen it,” the doctors said.