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08 March 2011

Summary of request

The Authority was asked for information about the number of members regulated by the HFEA and whether the HFEA requires them to carry Malpractice Liability Insurance for the entity (business) not individually.

HFEA response

The HFEA regulates clinics providing licensable assisted conception services, and centres carrying our research on human embryos and human admixed embryos in accordance with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (as amended – ‘the HFE Act’). In responding to this request the term ‘members’ has been interpreted to refer to these licensed centres.

Information about all centres licensed by the HFEA is provided on the HFEA website (www.hfea.gov.uk ) and can be found using the ‘choose a fertility clinic’ service (http://guide.hfea.gov.uk/guide/AllClinics.aspx?x=A&y=T).  As the information requested is reasonably accessible via the HFEA website, it is exempt from disclosure under section 21 FOIA.

With regard to the second part of the request (whether it is compulsory for licensed centres to carry malpractice liability insurance), this is not a requirement imposed by the HFEA or required under the HFE Act.  It may, however, be an institutional requirements or professional registration requirement applying to those bodies or individuals practising licensed activities. You may wish to seek further advice from a body such as the General Medical Council on this question.

Page last updated: 16 August 2012

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