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10/11/2005
Views sought on embryo testing
The public is to be consulted on how far doctors and scientists should be allowed to use embryo-testing techniques.
The debate, launched by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), will focus on current technologies, such as the ability to screen for breast cancer genes, as well as possible future developments, such as the potential to screen for Alzheimer’s disease.
The debate will allow people to give their views on the conditions under which the testing technique known as preimplantation genetic diagnosis can be used.
Currently, PGD has been licensed to test for serious inherited conditions, such as Cystic Fibrosis and Huntingdon’s disease. These conditions are ‘high penetrance’, meaning that people who have the gene are extremely likely to develop the condition.
However, it is now possible to test embryos for some cancers, such as breast and ovarian cancer and hereditary non polyposis colon cancer that are caused by a ‘lower penetrance’ gene.
A discussion document, published by the HFEA, examines the ethical implications of testing embryos for these conditions, in order to prevent passing the condition on.
The document also asks people for their views on possible future uses of developing the techniques, such as testing for certain types of inherited Alzheimer’s disease, prostate cancer and brain cancers.
Suzi Leather, Chair of the HFEA, said: “We would like people to understand the possible uses of embryo testing techniques – both now and in the future - and to hear their views on testing for serious diseases that people have a lower chance of getting or that occur later on in life.
“Looking ahead we may be asked to consider applications for these kinds of diseases in the near future and will therefore need to make choices about the types of conditions PGD can be used for.
“We would like to hear the views of anyone who might be affected by these choices: from patients, carers and affected families to doctors and staff in treatment centres to parliamentarians, academics and the wider public. This way we can begin to balance the views and interests of all groups and move towards building a consensus on this issue.”
However, pro-life charity Life described the idea of a public consultation on PGD as “ridiculous”.
Life spokesman Matthew O’Gorman said: “It is no coincidence that this announcement has been made just before the forthcoming government review of the HFE Act. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) realise that to retain power they must appear to be interested in what the people have to say. In reality, the only opinions they value are their own.
“They frequently grant pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) licenses without any regard for the will of the public. Their arrogant decisions make a mockery of our parliamentary democracy.”
Mr O’Gorman said that the powers of the HFEA should be curtailed and a separate bioethics committee should be established as a “truly representative” watchdog
The public discussion will take place in London on December 12. The response period for the consultation ends on January 16.
(KMcA/SP)
The debate, launched by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), will focus on current technologies, such as the ability to screen for breast cancer genes, as well as possible future developments, such as the potential to screen for Alzheimer’s disease.
The debate will allow people to give their views on the conditions under which the testing technique known as preimplantation genetic diagnosis can be used.
Currently, PGD has been licensed to test for serious inherited conditions, such as Cystic Fibrosis and Huntingdon’s disease. These conditions are ‘high penetrance’, meaning that people who have the gene are extremely likely to develop the condition.
However, it is now possible to test embryos for some cancers, such as breast and ovarian cancer and hereditary non polyposis colon cancer that are caused by a ‘lower penetrance’ gene.
A discussion document, published by the HFEA, examines the ethical implications of testing embryos for these conditions, in order to prevent passing the condition on.
The document also asks people for their views on possible future uses of developing the techniques, such as testing for certain types of inherited Alzheimer’s disease, prostate cancer and brain cancers.
Suzi Leather, Chair of the HFEA, said: “We would like people to understand the possible uses of embryo testing techniques – both now and in the future - and to hear their views on testing for serious diseases that people have a lower chance of getting or that occur later on in life.
“Looking ahead we may be asked to consider applications for these kinds of diseases in the near future and will therefore need to make choices about the types of conditions PGD can be used for.
“We would like to hear the views of anyone who might be affected by these choices: from patients, carers and affected families to doctors and staff in treatment centres to parliamentarians, academics and the wider public. This way we can begin to balance the views and interests of all groups and move towards building a consensus on this issue.”
However, pro-life charity Life described the idea of a public consultation on PGD as “ridiculous”.
Life spokesman Matthew O’Gorman said: “It is no coincidence that this announcement has been made just before the forthcoming government review of the HFE Act. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) realise that to retain power they must appear to be interested in what the people have to say. In reality, the only opinions they value are their own.
“They frequently grant pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) licenses without any regard for the will of the public. Their arrogant decisions make a mockery of our parliamentary democracy.”
Mr O’Gorman said that the powers of the HFEA should be curtailed and a separate bioethics committee should be established as a “truly representative” watchdog
The public discussion will take place in London on December 12. The response period for the consultation ends on January 16.
(KMcA/SP)
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