IVF baby farming banned - Govt ‘no’ to sale of eggs

Sydney
14 July 2002

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IVF baby farming banned - Govt ‘no’ to sale of eggs

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IVF baby farming banned - Govt ‘no’ to sale of eggs

By Chris Lindsay

The Federal Government has banned women selling their eggs for use in in vitro fertilisation (IVF) programs, saying this would create a class system in IVF; babies for the rich supplied by the poor.

The Minister for Health, Senator Kay Patterson, has confirmed that the Government rejected recent calls by the IVF industry for women to be paid $10,000 to $30,000 to donate eggs.

The head of Melbourne IVF, Dr John McBain, had advocated $30,000 payments to women to donate their eggs.

Senator Patterson said that the Council of Australian Governments meeting in April had decided that commercial trading in eggs would not be allowed, and that offers of valuable consideration were unacceptable and should be prohibited.

This stance is in line with existing National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines and statements, which set the national standard. The Minister said that large payments to donors could be regarded as inappropriate inducements.

National Party Senator Ron Boswell said it was important that parliaments assert their roles in ethical debates.

“Scientists can express their view but that is only one view. Governments must ensure citizens are not exploited or held to ransom,” he said.

“The IVF industry is not one that can be left to operate on deregulated market principles. We will not legalise the trade in motherhood.”