Background to Choices and boundaries

This is the decision that is going to have to be taken by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in the near future. Choices & boundaries aims to find out the views of the public on this issue.

Choices & boundaries is about the use of genetic testing in embryos to avoid passing on a predisposition to a specific cancer. The law gives the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) discretion to licence genetic testing in embryos to avoid a wide range of medical conditions. The technique used is known as Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD).

The HFEA has licensed PGD for many years now and through previous consultative work has developed effective guidance. This is used when considering licensing of new PGD conditions.

So far, around 50 genetic conditions have been tested for in embryos under licences issued by the HFEA. An emerging issue is the use of PGD to test embryos for the presence of a gene that will result in a predisposition to an inherited cancer. Such conditions include inherited forms of ovarian and breast cancer susceptibility and a type of inherited bowel cancer susceptibility.

The cancer predisposition conditions that we are discussing here are different to those that have previously been licensed by the HFEA for PGD. This is because not everyone who carries the faulty gene that predisposes them to cancer will develop cancer. Those who do develop the cancer are likely to do so as adults and have access to screening and treatment.

Although the law gives the HFEA discretion to licence the testing of embryos for these conditions, we welcome the views of the public and interested groups on this issue.

The purpose of Choices and boundaries was to gather the views of the public to inform licensing decisions and help the Authority decide if PGD should be used to avoid passing on a faulty gene that causes a susceptibility to a type of cancer.

Choices and boundaries
Should people be able to select embryos free from an inherited susceptibility to cancer? (274 Kb)