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On 10 November 2005 the HFEA published a consultation document entitled “Choices and Boundaries”.
The purpose of the consultation is to obtain views on whether to extend the range of conditions that can be screened for in Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (“PGD”). PGD involves fertilising several eggs in vitro and growing the embryos to around eight cells each. It is then possible to extract just one cell from each embryo for testing without damaging the embryo. Only embryos that are free of the relevant genetic condition are then implanted into the mother’s womb.
Currently this procedure is allowed only for genetic conditions virtually certain to lead to a devastating disease. The HFEA is now considering allowing the procedure to be applied to a wider range of conditions, including those that:
cause an increased risk, but by no means certainty, of developing cancer
cause diseases that can be treated or avoided – eg breast cancer avoided by a double mastectomy
lead to disease only late in life
Council hopes to produce a response on behalf of the Institute and would therefore like to know the views of individual members. If you wish to make your views known to Council, please email Betty Nixon at betty.nixon.t21@btinternet.com, using the subject line HFEA Consultation, or write to her – in either case by 31 December 2005 at the latest as the HFEA consultation ends on 16 January 2006. Before commenting, please read the consultation document and ensure that your comments specifically address the questions on page 15 of the document. We cannot guarantee that your views will be reflected in the final response and you are, of course, entitled as a private individual to respond directly to the HFEA.