A global survey of fertility treatment covering more than 100 countries has revealed wide variations in international laws governing IVF treatment which, it claims, are fuelling the growth of ‘fertility tourism.’ At least 10,000 people go abroad each year to seek help with having a baby – often because laws in their home country are too restrictive of the cost of treatment is too high.
Yesterday’s Independent covered this story, with Jeremy Laurence discussing how in the field of IVF, wide differences in clinical practice exist – and that such differences are often driven by social and religious attitudes rather than scientific evidence. We’ve touched upon this before here at Zelda Lily, with the story of questionable IVF practices in India leading to some of the world’s oldest mothers. Or, you know, the Octomom. [Ed. Note: And where the hell has she been lately, anyway?]
Experts at the World Congress on Fertility in Munich were yesterday set to announce a code of practice on cross-border care, to be published later this year. Professor Ian Cooke, Education Director of the International Federation of Fertility Societies, said:
‘What is considered acceptable varies from country to country. How carefully do they screen donors? How do they screen for multiple pregnancies? Do you want to come back with quadruplets? That’s madness.’
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