MPs begin the grooming of the bioethics law

Written by Sandeep Nehra

The National Assembly returned on Tuesday in committee, on the extent to embryo transfer postmortem previously adopted against the advice of the government, under the bill for revision of bioethics laws.

Members began reviewing the draft law amending the laws of bioethics , which maintains the status quo on the essentials, especially the principle of prohibition of embryo research and the anonymity of donors gametes.

“Is it necessary to have a revolution in bioethics? I’m not sure, really not,” said Health Minister Xavier Bertrand, the tribune of the National Assembly.

“But we obviously need to make adjustments arising from changes in medicine and society,” he added.

The opening of the trial at the Palais Bourbon has coincided with the announcement by Rene Frydman of the birth of a “double hope baby” – or “designer baby”, the first in France. A medical success has revived the controversy over the “instrumentalization” of human beings.

“Our responsibility to future generations is to ask whether everything that is humanly possible is technically desirable,” said Mr. Bertrand.

He reiterated the government’s desire to “maintain the basic prohibition of embryo research,” while allowing “framed exceptions to this principle.”

“I think research on embryo research is not like the others, because it touches on the origin of life,” he said, expressing support for the amendment on freedom of conscientious researchers, adopted in committee.

Alain Claeys (PS) has in turn called for the authorization. “If there’s one important point of cleavage between the majority and the opposition is good research,” he said.

Mr. Bertrand has also reiterated the government’s opposition to the lifting of anonymity for gamete donors and transfer of frozen embryos in a woman after the death of the father.

The removal of anonymity for gamete donors was included in the text submitted by the Council of Ministers by Roselyne Bachelot, who preceded Mr. Bertrand Department of Health. It was rejected in committee.

The possibility of transfer of embryos post-mortem had been introduced by the commission, but it reversed the position just before the public meeting.

The minister, however, supported the Commission proposal to allow the implementation of the vitrification of oocytes. “This method of freezing ultra-fast helps to keep the eggs and thus reduce the number of frozen embryos,” he said.

He said that the question of the number of fertilized oocytes should be debated.

Mr. Bertrand also said consider “the risks” that could lead to the possibility, introduced in committee to allow women who never had children to donate their oocytes.

Before the public meeting, members were taken by the Commission an amendment to the UMP-NC also men who have no children to donate sperm.

On the issue of prenatal screening for trisomy 21 in particular, the Minister said that “the free will of the woman and the couple must be respected.”

“It is unthinkable, it is not possible in one way or another, as occurs in genetic selection of unborn children. We need to ensure that screening does not lead to a decision automaticity of medical termination of pregnancy, “said the minister.

The vote on the bill its first reading is scheduled Feb. 15.

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