Response to House of Commons Science and Technology Committee report, developments in human genetics and embryology

Date issued: 18 July 2002

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) welcomes the report's call for new legislation to cover the complex ethical issues of human genetics and embryology.

Dr Maureen Dalziel, the new chief executive of the HFEA, says:

"New, clearer legislation is desperately needed that takes into account the massive scientific advances that have taken place since the last act was drafted and is less open to misinterpretation.  New legislation must maintain patient confidentiality but at the same time not impose practical constraints that make it difficult for the HFEA to do its job."

She adds:

"The HFEA recognises that it too needs to change to keep pace with scientific and medical advances, make its operating procedures easier and quicker and meet the growing demand from the public for more openness and debate on decisions of ethical importance."

The HFEA has developed a raft of radical reforms including:

• the introduction of robust evidenced-based regulatory procedures from autumn 2002
• recruiting additional highly-skilled staff to speed up the licensing process
• introducing a new standing licensing committee
• a new process for taking on new applications and closing clinics
• a new protocol for incidence management and complaints
• continuing its work, praised in the Science and Technology Committee's report, to improve communication and consultation with the public.

"New, better ways of working will need more money" continued Dr Dalziel.  "The HFEA budget, which has remained fixed at about £1.5 million since it was set up in 1991, needs to increase to a minimum of £4.5 million for us to implement the planned regulatory reforms in order to ensure that clinics in the United Kingdom continue to operate to the highest standards in the world."

"I am pleased to note that the Commons Science and Technology Committee acknowledges that the HFEA is facing serious funding issues, and that despite this, it has been 'successful in ensuring public confidence in its regulation of fertility treatments and research'.  The committee's report also quotes the Lords Stem Cell Research Committee in saying that the HFEA is 'highly regarded both at home and abroad ? [and] has the full confidence of the scientific and medical research community'."

Ends

Notes to editors

• The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority consulted widely on the principles of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis mentioned in the committee's report.  The consultation took place between November 1999 and March 2000.  In considering the results of the consultation exercise the HFEA and the Human Genetics Committee made it clear that each individual case of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis would need to be considered in its own right.  This is what happened in the case of the Hashmi case where a licence was awarded to a clinic to enable it to implant an embryo with a genetic profile that would enable the baby to donate cord blood to an older sibling with beta thalassaemia.  The Hashmi case was considered by the HFEA's Ethics Committee chaired by The Right Reverend Dr Michael James Nazir-Ali, The Lord Bishop of Rochester, after obtaining legal advice to confirm that this was within the authority's remit.  The HFEA's decision on the Hashmi case was well received at the time by the media and the public.

Contacts

For furthur information please contact the HFEA press office.