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As part of a periodic review, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is calling for public submissions on its draft guidelines on the use of assisted reproductive technology in clinical practice and research. This, in lay terms, is the practice of in vitro fertiliszation (IVF).
Producing guidelines to advise the community on ethical issues relating to health is one of the NHMRC’s many tasks. Revisions aim to reflect changes in technology and social attitudes and are based on advice from the Australian Health Ethics Committee (AHEC), which I chair.
The suggested change to the ethical guidelines that’s getting most attention is the question of whether parents should be able to select the sex of their child when there’s no compelling medical reason for doing so.
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The committee is aware that some Australians are pursuing sex selection in overseas clinics. And because not all international clinics have the same standard of care that exists in Australia, this could be risky for both the woman and her child.
It’s important to note that no decision about allowing sex selection in IVF has been made yet. We’re seeking community input, which we’ll take into account, along with ethical and practical considerations, before any changes are made.
Read full, original post: It’s Time To Allow Sex Selection In IVF
