Sex selection: choice and responsibility in human reproduction ...

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Sex Selection: Choice and Responsibility in Human ReproductionSummaryRegulationPermitted uses20Sperm sortingUnregulated where freshpartner’s sperm is used forinsemination. Wheredonor sperm is used orwhen it involves IVF it isregulated by the HFEAunder the HumanFertilisation andEmbryology Act 1990Not currently permittedfor regulated uses. Can beoffered by unlicensedcentres for any purposewhere use is unregulatedPreimplantation GeneticDiagnosisIllegal without licence.Licences are issued byHFEA under the HumanFertilisation andEmbryology Act 1990Permitted only for medicalreasons (avoidance ofserious sex-linkedconditions)Termination of PregnancyRegulated under theAbortion Act 1967 (asamended)Permitted only for medicalreasonsHuman Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
Sex Selection: Choice and Responsibility in Human ReproductionPart Five: Ethical/Social IssuesWhat people have said62. We have seen that some uses of sex selection are currently viewed as ethicallyacceptable. The question therefore is where to draw the line between acceptable andunacceptable uses of sex selection. This is a very difficult task and this sectionconsiders some of the arguments that help people to draw this line. Many of themwill be relevant to the questionnaire that follows.2163. In our discussion groups we found that overall, having discussed the issues, peopletended to fall into one of three broad categories, although sex selection was found tobe a subject on which absolute agreement between two people on every point wasvery rare.● One group felt that any interference with natural conception – including IVF –was wrong, and that resources should be put into supporting those withdisabilities rather than preventing them from being born.●●A second group felt that the current approach, of only allowing sex selection forthe avoidance of serious disease using methods of proven accuracy, was correctalthough they thought that people should be able to use sperm sorting incombination with PGD.A third group felt that if the technology exists people should be given access to it,since it has the capacity to fulfil people’s wishes, provided that it does not causeharm to either the people concerned or to their offspring. Nevertheless, this groupwould like to see the use of the techniques closely monitored and regulated.Medical reasons64. The most straightforward area in which sex selection might be seen as acceptable iswhere it is used to enable prospective parents to avoid having a child with a serioussex-linked disorder.65. Despite a relative lack of knowledge about the medical reasons for sex selection,public opinion does appear to favour this type of intervention. The view taken bythe HFEA at present is that where there is a clearly identified risk of a couple havinga child with a serious genetic disorder, the choices must be left to the couple orwoman, and that no pressure should be exerted upon the woman to have – orindeed not to have – a child that may have inherited a serious sex-linked diseasei.66. There is a strong feeling – from the general public and also from service providers –that this area should be properly regulated. The HFEA’s research also shows a desireHuman Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
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Sex selection: choice and responsibility in human reproduction ...

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