Regulating embryo models in the UK – Journal of Law and the Biosciences

Posted July 25th, 2024 in embryology, genetic testing, human tissue, news by sally

‘One of this century’s most dramatic scientific developments is the reprogramming of stem cells in order to create self-organizing embryo-like entities, known as stem cell based embryo models (SCBEMs). The science is moving very quickly, but if, as increasingly appears to be the case, scientists are capable of creating entities that are effectively indistinguishable from sperm and egg derived embryos, important legal questions arise. In countries like the UK, where a strict regulatory regime applies to research on embryos, should this be extended to SCBEM research, or would a different regulatory response be appropriate? Drawing on the 1984 Warnock Report, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 and the latest guidelines from the International Society for Stem Cell Research, this article considers principles for the regulation of the creation and use of SCBEMs.’

Full Story

Journal of Law and the Biosciences, 18th July 2024

Source: academic.oup.com

Work on synthetic human embryos to get code of practice in UK – The Guardian

Posted July 4th, 2024 in codes of practice, embryology, news by sally

‘Biological models of human embryos that can develop heartbeats, spinal cords and other distinctive features will be governed by a code of practice in Britain to ensure that researchers work on them responsibly.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 4th July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Advances in synthetic embryos leave legislators needing to catch up – The Guardian

Posted June 15th, 2023 in animals, embryology, news, pregnancy, regulations by sally

‘Synthetic embryos sit at a unique juxtaposition: scientifically fascinating, ethically challenging and, for the most part, entirely unregulated by current legislation. The latest work by Prof Magdalena Żernicka-Goetz’s team brings these issues into stark relief and show that developments in this field are happening so quickly that the science is rapidly outpacing the law.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 14th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK fertility watchdog considers laws for gene editing and lab-grown eggs – The Guardian

Posted August 30th, 2022 in anonymity, assisted reproduction, embryology, news, regulations by tracey

‘Human genome editing and lab-grown eggs that could theoretically allow same-sex couples to have biological children are among the anticipated scientific advances being discussed by the fertility watchdog to “future-proof” any prospective laws.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th August 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Egg freezing laws not fit for purpose and force women into ‘heartbreaking’ scenario of destroying eggs – The Independent

Posted February 27th, 2020 in assisted reproduction, embryology, human rights, news, time limits by tracey

‘The UK law on egg freezing is not fit for purpose and can force women into the “heartbreaking” scenario of having their frozen eggs destroyed, leading medical organisations have warned.’

Full Story

The Independent, 27th February 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Frozen-egg storage 10-year limit ‘could be extended’ – BBC News

Posted February 11th, 2020 in assisted reproduction, embryology, human tissue, news, time limits by sally

‘The period of time for which eggs, sperm and embryos can be frozen could be extended, as the government calls for views on the current 10-year limit.’

Full Story

BBC News, 11th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sperm donations from dead men should be allowed, study says – BBC News

Posted January 21st, 2020 in assisted reproduction, consent, embryology, human tissue, news by sally

‘Sperm donations taken from men after they have died should be allowed, a study says.’

Full Story

BBC News, 21st January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Editing human embryos ‘morally permissible’ – BBC News

Posted July 17th, 2018 in assisted reproduction, embryology, news, reports by tracey

‘An inquiry into the ethical issues surrounding genetically altering a human embryo has found there is “no absolute reason not to pursue it”. But appropriate measures must be put in place before it becomes UK law, said the report – which calls for further research both medically and socially.’

Full Story

BBC News, 17th July 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Surrogacy and HFEA Update (March 2018) – Family Law Week

Posted March 9th, 2018 in assisted reproduction, embryology, news, surrogacy by tracey

‘Andrew Powell, barrister of 4 Paper Buildings, considers recent developments relating to surrogacy law, including new guidance, as well as the latest cases concerning administrative errors and the HFEA.’

Full Story

Family Law Week, 8th March 2018

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Permission given to create Britain’s first ‘three-person babies’ – The Guardian

Posted February 2nd, 2018 in assisted reproduction, embryology, news by sally

‘Doctors in Newcastle have been granted permission to create Britain’s first “three-person babies” for two women who are at risk of passing on devastating and incurable genetic diseases to their children.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 1st February 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Surrogacy and HFEA Update (November 2017) – Family Law Week

‘Andrew Powell, barrister of 4 Paper Buildings, considers recent developments relating to surrogacy law as well as the latest cases concerning administrative errors and the HFEA.’

Full Story

Family Law Week, 7th November 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Three Person IVF to begin in UK – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 22nd, 2017 in assisted reproduction, DNA, embryology, news by sally

‘A clinic in Newcastle upon Tyne has been granted the UK’s first licence to carry out a trial of “three person IVF” (Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy, or MRT). The fertility technique is intended to be used by couples who want to prevent genetic diseases being passed on to their children, due to faulty mitochondrial DNA. The process uses genetic material from the mother, father and a female donor, and replaces faulty genetic material in the mother’s DNA with the female donor’s genetic material.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 20th March 2017

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Is it time for embryo research rules to be changed? – BBC News

Posted January 18th, 2017 in embryology, experiments, news, time limits by sally

‘Experts are renewing calls to allow experiments on embryos beyond 14 days of development, saying it would drive medical breakthroughs.’

Full story

BBC News, 17th January 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Babies made from three people approved in UK – BBC News

Posted December 19th, 2016 in assisted reproduction, DNA, embryology, news by sally

‘Babies made from two women and one man have been approved by the UK’s fertility regulator.’

Full story

BBC News, 15th December 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘It is time to make’ three-person babies – BBC News

Posted December 1st, 2016 in assisted reproduction, DNA, embryology, news by sally

‘It is time to start making babies from three people, according to scientists advising the UK’s fertility regulator.’

Full story

BBC News, 30th November 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

British woman, 60, who wants to use dead daughter’s eggs to give birth to her own grandchild in world first wins legal appeal – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 30th, 2016 in appeals, assisted reproduction, embryology, grandparents, news, surrogacy by tracey

‘A woman who wants to use her dead daughter’s frozen eggs to give birth to her own grandchild has won a Court of Appeal battle.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th June 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Widow to take fight to save frozen embryos to court – The Guardian

Posted June 22nd, 2016 in bereavement, consent, embryology, families, news, pregnancy by sally

‘The widow of a Falklands war combat medic will go to the high court on Wednesday in an effort to prevent the couple’s frozen embryos from being destroyed.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st June 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Donating embryos for medical research–a human rights minefield – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted September 25th, 2015 in consent, EC law, embryology, human rights, Italy, jurisdiction, news, privacy, proportionality by sally

‘The case of Parrilo v Italy [2015] ECHR 755, decided by the Grand Chamber of the ECt.HR (16-1), that Italian legislation banning the donation of embryos obtained by IVF for scientific research was within Italy’s margin of appreciation and thus was not in breach of the applicant’s (Ms Parillo) right to private life and autonomy under Article 8 of the ECHR.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 24th September 2015

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Call for open discussion of gene-editing in treatment of human embryos – Technology Law Update

Posted September 3rd, 2015 in DNA, embryology, health, news by sally

The rapid development of the powerful new CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology raises as many questions as it answers. Now a group of leading research organisations has thrown open the discussion to public debate. Is it now time, they ask, to the use these techniques to treat patients by altering the genes of reproductive cells and embryos to tackle genetic disease?
Full story

Technology Law Update, 2nd September 2015

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Non-genetic parentage under the HFEA 2008 – Tanfield Chambers

Posted March 20th, 2015 in assisted reproduction, embryology, news, parental rights by sally

‘Where a child is conceived with donor sperm, parentage is normally determined under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008. S.33 provides that the woman who bears the child will be the mother, regardless of whether the egg was hers or came from a donor. If she is married or in a civil partnership, her spouse or civil partner will be the other parent, unless it is shown that the spouse or civil partner did not consent to the treatment – s.35 and s.42. Otherwise, ss.36 and 37 provide that a man (who will normally be the mother’s partner) will be the child’s father if:

(i) the treatment is provided by a clinic in the UK under a licence from the HFE Authority; and

(ii) both parties give written notice to the clinic consenting to such parentage.’

Full story

Tanfield Chambers, 20th February 2015

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk