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Human Embryology Act 2008
1955 Robert Edwards, PhD EdinburghSupervisor - Alan Beatty
1968 Fertilisation of Human Egg (with P. Steptoe)
1978 First “Test Tube Baby” - Louise Brown in Oldham General Hospital
2010 4 million children born by IVFNew innovations of:
(1) intracytoplasmic sperm injection(2)embryo biopsy(3)stem cell research
Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001Regulations to extend purpose of embryo research
- serious disease and their treatments, development of embryos.
Embryonic Stem Cell Research and therapeutic cloning - HFEA License
No reproductive cloningRegulation of sperm sorting-sex linked disorders
requiring sex selection, 2003HEFA Disclosure of donor (age 18), 2004 European Union Tissues and Cell Directives
1982 Warnock Committee (implications of new technology)
1987 White Paper 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act
Formation of HEFA:-(a) Regulates and inspects all UK clinics providing in
vitro fertilisation(b) Artificial insemination(c) Storage of human eggs, sperm or embryos(d) Regulates human embryo research(e) Creation of human embryos and a database
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008
1. House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee 2005
‘Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law’(a) Legislative framework since 1990(b) Technological advances and recent changes
in ethical and societal attitudes
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008
• Science and Technology Select Committee Inquiry – Sources of Evidence:
Oral Witnesses:Learned Societies and Interest Groups - 20Individuals – 41Government Bodies - 11
Written Evidence:Learned Societies and Interest Groups - 30Individuals – 42Government Bodies – 4Companies - 1
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008
1. House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee 2005
‘Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law’2. Department of Health - review of 1990 Act (Public
consultation and White Paper) - Government proposals for revision
3. Joint Committee of both Houses on Bill
4. Final Bill - Lords to Commons
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008
1. Ban on selecting sex of offspring 2. Creation and use of human embryos outside body to be regulated
3. Requiring clinics to take account of the welfare of the child and no account to be taken of child’s need for a father
4. Both partners recognised in same sex relationships as legal parents of the child
5. Embryos containing both human and animal material to be regulated – human admix embryos
Current responsibilities of the HEFA
To monitor and licence clinics carrying out IVF and human embryo research
To maintain a register of licences of clinics, research establishments and storage centres
Regulate storage of gametes and embryosImplement the requirements of the European
Union Tissue and Cells Directive to relicence IVF clinics, interuterine insemination and gamete intrafallopian transfer
The HFEA Today
Incorporated into ?Investigating compensation to donorsMultiple births to be reducedMaking the facility to eliminate mitochondrial
disease possible with 3 parentsTo consider views of professional bodies,
patient groups and NHS funding bodies
