The UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and Medical Research Council (MRC) have confirmed press claims that a working group has been established to conduct a program of research looking at potential long-term health effects of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and related treatments. The working group is chaired by...
St George's Hospital in London has become the latest hospital to be exposed over procedural errors in the provision of IVF treatments. It has been revealed that the wrong embryos were transplanted into the wombs of three women undergoing IVF at one of the hospital's clinics. The error, which happened...
The UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has launched a public consultation asking whether people believe that embryo sex selection techniques should be made available for non-medical purposes. The public were last consulted on the issue in 1993, when non-medical sex selection was rejected. Currently, UK law only allows...
A British couple who sought embryo screening to provide a bone marrow donor for their sick son have undergone IVF treatment in the US. Jayson and Michelle Whitaker, who were refused access to the screening procedure by the UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) in August, travelled to Chicago...
A Maltese biotechnology firm claims it has identified a loophole in the controversial patents on two genetic tests for breast cancer held by US company Myriad Genetics. Synergene says that the patents do not apply in Malta, as the country has not signed the European Patent Convention. It plans to...
Stay up-to-date on all the latest developments in the fields of human fertility and genomics. And be the first to hear about upcoming events and other announcements.
Comment
On the making of a media story
by Juliet Tizzard
This week, a fertility story appeared which must have left parents of IVF children quaking in their boots. According to a report in the Independent, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and the Medical Research Council are to 'launch a study into the potential health problems' of children born...