Assisted Reproduction and Embryos

When it comes to interference in the intimate details of people’s lives, religious zealots are in the premier league. Fortunately, in addressing some of the issues surrounding the question of human embryos, the Supreme Court made another ruling that affirmed the supremacy of the state in a non-theocratic republic. Kathy Synott dubs this “a betrayal of the Irish people”. As a born and bred Irish person, I reject Ms Synott’s aggregation of my rights to her prejudices. I empathise with Andrew Doyle’s attitude and experience regarding his and his partners experiences with IVF at Bourn Hall, Cambridge in letters 23rd December, Irish Examiner. Molecular biology offers huge possibilities for therapeutic interventions in medicine and I prefer that legislation (if ever enacted) in this whole area is general rather than overly specific. The most practical template is the report of the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction 2005. Meanwhile, in the absence of such legislation, Irish fertility clinics appear to follow the ethical codes set down by the UK Human Fertility and Embryology Authority.