A British doctor has submitted an application to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the UK's regulatory body, to carry out embryo splitting. The notorious Paul Rainsbury, consultant gynaecologist at the BUPA Roding Hospital in Essex, argues that embryo splitting would allow a woman to increase the number of embryos available for IVF treatment. The HFEA has indicated that it will consider the application but would need to see research into the procedure's safety. Anti-abortion activists claim that this represents the first step towards human cloning, with Lord Alton vowing to call on the government to veto the application during Wednesday's debate on cloning in the House of Lords. Ann Widdecombe, the shadow health secretary, said that childless couples should accept their infertility.
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Doctor wants 'cloning' licence