BMA response to new guidance on embryo selection

May 10 2006

Commenting on today's decision by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to extend the criteria for pre-implantation embryo selection to prevent the passing on of a genetic predisposition to conditions such as breast cancer, the BMA's Head of Ethics and Science, Dr Vivienne Nathanson, said:

"The BMA believes that it is right to use advances in medical technology to reduce suffering and impairment and we therefore welcome today's decision to extend the criteria for embryo selection.

"We do not see that today's decision is moving towards ‘designer babies'. There is a world of difference between a parent not wanting their child to develop breast cancer and someone wanting a child with blue eyes and blond hair. We do not believe parents will undertake embryo selection for trivial reasons and we do not believe they should be allowed to do so.

"It is unlikely that requests for embryo selection will increase dramatically because of the invasiveness, expense and low success rate of IVF treatment. We also have a regulatory body to ensure that appropriate boundaries can be set."