Web sperm sites crackdown planned

[BERIGAN]

Web sperm sites crackdown planned

Websites offer donor eggs and sperm to women who want children

Proposals to crack down on internet sites that trade in human sperm and eggs are set to be unveiled this week by the government.

The plans are part of a consultation on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.

The websites currently fall outside existing regulation, and so do not have to comply with the same safety and quality procedures as clinics.

But the head of one of the sites said he would welcome it being accredited.

We want to ensure that we can continue to reap the benefits of the latest scientific developments within a system that continues to inspire public confidence

Health minister Caroline Flint

The Department of Health has said there are a number of concerns regarding how internet sites currently operate, including the fact that internet sperm donors do not benefit from the same legal protection as that given to donors at regulated clinics.

This means website donors are regarded as the legal parent, unlike those who donate via clinics.

The consultation on the HFE Act will ask whether the law should be changed to make sure companies selling eggs and sperm over the internet are meeting the same standards as fertility clinics or whether the practice should be banned altogether.

Public confidence'

Health Minister Caroline Flint said: "The HFE Act was a landmark piece of legislation which has stood the test of time well.

"However, we never expected the act would remain forever unchanged in the face of major developments in science and medicine.

"We want to ensure that we can continue to reap the benefits of the latest scientific developments within a system that continues to inspire public confidence."

British Fertility Society secretary Dr Allan Pacey welcomed the review.

There are real health dangers to patients treated with, and any children born from, fresh sperm obtained in this way

British Fertility Society secretary Dr Allan Pacey

He said: "In licensed clinics, sperm donors undergo a raft of tests to minimise the risk of passing on genetic diseases to any children conceived and to make sure their samples are clear of infections such as chlamydia and HIV.

"Fresh sperm, obtained from these unregulated sources, simply cannot be tested and quarantined in the same way.

"This means there are real health dangers to patients treated with, and any children born from, fresh sperm obtained in this way."

He added: "Clinics are currently finding it harder to recruit men who are willing to be donors and so it is understandable that patients may turn to these online sources, but they should be aware of the dangers in doing so."

But John Gonzalez, chief executive of the Man Not Included website, said he had been suggesting there should be a system for regulating sites since his had been established three years ago.

He said: "I have told the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Department of Health that we would welcome some sort of accreditation, although not at the same level as fertility clinics.

"That would be like trying to saying you could have the same regulations governing the use of a tricycle to those for a Ferrari."

Mr Gonzalez said his site carried out stringent testing of donors, and added: "The majority of babies conceived every day are conceived using fresh sperm."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4145378.stm

[Jazzmoose]

Whew! I thought you meant they were shutting down the porn sites. I had to eat an entire bag of Wavy Lays to calm down...

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

Conrad, you seen the back of a Montecristo No. 4 box lately?

No Mamacita!