Human assisted reproduction

This working group has developed information that assisted the Bioethics Council to comment on issues such as:

• Implications for research such as the use of embryonic stem cells.
• Cloning for non-reproductive purposes.
• Pre-implantation diagnosis.

Examples

Examples of biotechnologies used in assisted human reproduction include:

• Technologies that assist in the creation of human embryos, such as in vitro fertilisation and donor insemination.
• Technologies that select those embryos least likely to carry a genetic condition, such as genetic testing or chromosome analysis.

The use of these technologies may be:

• Uncontroversial in some contexts (e.g. the use of in vitro fertilisation by infertile couples).
• More controversial in other contexts (e.g. the use of in vitro fertilisation within surrogacy arrangements).

Researchers may also want to use human gametes of embryos. The research may be into issues concerned with reproduction, or for the understanding and possible treatment of medical conditions.

Activity

The working group prepared an analysis of the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill's Supplementary Order Paper with and made a submission to the Health Select Committee:

• Submission to the Health Select Committee on the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology ("HART") Bill SOP No. 80

Working Group

Members of the working group were:

• Helen Bichan.
• Eamon Daly.
• Waiora Port.
• Martin Wilkinson.