FG aka Football Genius.
New member
- Nov 3, 2003
- 1,029
Do u agree should parents be able to choose sex of unborn? playing with nature or just progress and why arent we making use of this surely it'll balance itself out roughly 50/50 anyway?
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MOVES to prevent couples being allowed to choose the sex of their baby for reasons other than medical concerns have been welcomed by doctors, fertility experts and ethical watchdogs.
A report by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) said it had come to the conclusion that sex selection should only be used to avoid serious gender-linked disorders, such as haemophilia.
Health Secretary John Reid, the British Medical Association, the British Fertility Society and the Human Genetics Alert were among those who welcomed the HFEA's recommendations, which will now be considered by the Government.
The authority said its research had shown that the vast majority of the public are opposed to people being allowed to choose whether they have a boy or girl for social or 'family balancing' reasons.
Its recommendations will come as a blow to couples who believe they should have the right to choose the sex of their child.
Religious and ethical groups have opposed gender selection, believing it would lead to a 'slippery slope' of children being selected or de-selected on the basis of more minor issues such as appearance or lesser medical problems.
Dr Reid said: "I fully support the view that people should not be allowed to select the sex of their children on social grounds.
"I can confirm that as long as I am Secretary of State for Health, sex selection will only be permitted on compelling medical grounds.
"We will consider carefully whether the law needs to be changed to ensure this ban can be maintained effectively."
The HFEA's review was prompted by a request from Government and included a public consultation showing that 80 per cent of people in the UK were opposed to gender selection for non-medical reasons.
In its recommendations, the HFEA said techniques involving sperm sorting - which differentiate between male and female sperm - should be regulated in the UK.
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MOVES to prevent couples being allowed to choose the sex of their baby for reasons other than medical concerns have been welcomed by doctors, fertility experts and ethical watchdogs.
A report by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) said it had come to the conclusion that sex selection should only be used to avoid serious gender-linked disorders, such as haemophilia.
Health Secretary John Reid, the British Medical Association, the British Fertility Society and the Human Genetics Alert were among those who welcomed the HFEA's recommendations, which will now be considered by the Government.
The authority said its research had shown that the vast majority of the public are opposed to people being allowed to choose whether they have a boy or girl for social or 'family balancing' reasons.
Its recommendations will come as a blow to couples who believe they should have the right to choose the sex of their child.
Religious and ethical groups have opposed gender selection, believing it would lead to a 'slippery slope' of children being selected or de-selected on the basis of more minor issues such as appearance or lesser medical problems.
Dr Reid said: "I fully support the view that people should not be allowed to select the sex of their children on social grounds.
"I can confirm that as long as I am Secretary of State for Health, sex selection will only be permitted on compelling medical grounds.
"We will consider carefully whether the law needs to be changed to ensure this ban can be maintained effectively."
The HFEA's review was prompted by a request from Government and included a public consultation showing that 80 per cent of people in the UK were opposed to gender selection for non-medical reasons.
In its recommendations, the HFEA said techniques involving sperm sorting - which differentiate between male and female sperm - should be regulated in the UK.
