The Human Fertilisation and the Embryology Bill has raised controversy again recently particularly in relation to the creation of hybrid animal/human embryos to aid stem cell research. The Catholic Church has raised it's concerns resulting in pressure being put on the Government to allow a free vote in the House of Commons to enable MPs to vote with their conscience. But where has the Catholic Church been whilst the bill has been progressing through the House of Lords. Obviously the Lords did not win the scientific argument so the Church has had to intervene firstly condemning the practice as one of the new seven deadly sins and then by intervening in the political process.
As a result and respecting the fact that MPs may have a crisis of conscience between their religious beliefs and that of the manifesto on which they were elected or with their electorate, Gordon Brown announced yesterday that the free vote would be allowed on what was said to be the three most controversial areas of the bill.
Disappointingly this is to include the proposals to prevent fertility clinics from refusing treatment to single women and lesbians - under current legislation clinics must take account of the welfare of the unborn child including "the need for a father". The bill proposes to replace this requirement with the "need for supportive parenting" to be considered. Obviously, there may be MPs who wish to retain the requirement for consideration to be given to "the need for a father".
It should be noted that Gordon Brown has indicated that he will support the removal of the clause.
Showing posts with label Human Fertiliation and Embryology Bill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Human Fertiliation and Embryology Bill. Show all posts
9 Dec 2007
Sperm donor ordered to pay child maintenance
A man who donated sperm to a lesbian couple is being made to pay maintenance by the Child Support Agency (CSA). Andy Bathie, 37, from Enfield, north London, claims he was assured by the couple he would have no personal or financial involvement for the children. He donated his sperm as a friend rather than go through a fertility clinic. This is a common arrangement due to limted access to assisted reproduction in clinics for lesbians. The couple though claim differently and say that Bathie did have some involvement and in fact behaved as a full time father and therefore should take some financial responsibility.
The CSA said only anonymous donors at licensed centres are exempt from being treated as the legal father of a child born as a result of their donation. Bathie, a firefighter, said he cannot afford to have children with his own wife due to the financial implications. The lesbian couple, who approached the couple five years ago after they married in a civil ceremony, have a boy and a girl. They said that they were put under pressure from the CSA to reveal the identity of the Father otherwise their Income Support would be reduced.
Mr Bathie said he reacted with "shock, anger and despair", when he was contacted by the CSA in November. He said: "I don't have any particular ill will. It's the fact that I still even now don't see why I should have to pay for another couple's children."
A spokesman for Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) said: "The law says that men donating sperm through licensed fertility clinics are not the legal father of any child born through that donation. "Men giving out their sperm in any other way - such as via internet arrangements - are legally the father of any children born with all the responsibilities that carries."
A spokeswoman for CSA said: "Unless the child is legally adopted, both biological parents are financially responsible for their child - the Child Support Agency legislation is not gender or partnership based." Ministers have drawn up fertility reforms giving equal parenting rights to same-sex couples who "marry" in a civil partnership. This means they will be recognised as the legal parents of children conceived through sperm donation.
However, this just shows how much pressure the CSA put on women to name the father of a child and the narrow exceptions when the Father cannot be named. This is truly discriminatory to lesbians and gay men who twenty years ago would not have any access to fertility clinics and even now still have limited access. The law still requires that access to assisted reproduction needs to take into account the child's need for a father which deters lesbians from accessing such services or even being refused services. However, it is likely that a same sex partner's resources would be taken into account if the other partner was being assessed to pay child support for chldren from a previous heterosexual relationship which is the irony of the situation.
The changes in the law if they do happen will come too late for Mr Bathie, although he is pushing for the law to be retrospective. However these changes are meeting with attacks from anti-gay peers and there have been amendments submitted to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill to prevent the changes that Mr Bathie is calling for. The amendments are likely to be debated at the next reading of the bill in House of Lords Committee on the 10th December 2007. Following committee stage the bill will proceed to the Commons.
For more on the bill read previous post. Also see analysis in Pink News.
The CSA said only anonymous donors at licensed centres are exempt from being treated as the legal father of a child born as a result of their donation. Bathie, a firefighter, said he cannot afford to have children with his own wife due to the financial implications. The lesbian couple, who approached the couple five years ago after they married in a civil ceremony, have a boy and a girl. They said that they were put under pressure from the CSA to reveal the identity of the Father otherwise their Income Support would be reduced.
Mr Bathie said he reacted with "shock, anger and despair", when he was contacted by the CSA in November. He said: "I don't have any particular ill will. It's the fact that I still even now don't see why I should have to pay for another couple's children."
A spokesman for Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) said: "The law says that men donating sperm through licensed fertility clinics are not the legal father of any child born through that donation. "Men giving out their sperm in any other way - such as via internet arrangements - are legally the father of any children born with all the responsibilities that carries."
A spokeswoman for CSA said: "Unless the child is legally adopted, both biological parents are financially responsible for their child - the Child Support Agency legislation is not gender or partnership based." Ministers have drawn up fertility reforms giving equal parenting rights to same-sex couples who "marry" in a civil partnership. This means they will be recognised as the legal parents of children conceived through sperm donation.
However, this just shows how much pressure the CSA put on women to name the father of a child and the narrow exceptions when the Father cannot be named. This is truly discriminatory to lesbians and gay men who twenty years ago would not have any access to fertility clinics and even now still have limited access. The law still requires that access to assisted reproduction needs to take into account the child's need for a father which deters lesbians from accessing such services or even being refused services. However, it is likely that a same sex partner's resources would be taken into account if the other partner was being assessed to pay child support for chldren from a previous heterosexual relationship which is the irony of the situation.
The changes in the law if they do happen will come too late for Mr Bathie, although he is pushing for the law to be retrospective. However these changes are meeting with attacks from anti-gay peers and there have been amendments submitted to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill to prevent the changes that Mr Bathie is calling for. The amendments are likely to be debated at the next reading of the bill in House of Lords Committee on the 10th December 2007. Following committee stage the bill will proceed to the Commons.
For more on the bill read previous post. Also see analysis in Pink News.
24 Nov 2007
Defending a woman's right to choose - Abortion Rights
Following the Queen’s speech on 6th November the government’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill (formerly the Human Tisue and Embryos Bill) has had its First and Second Readings in the House of Lords on 7th and 19th November respectively. Although the Bill itself does not address abortion, it is expected that anti-abortion Peers and/or MPs may table a number of damaging amendments to restrict women’s rights to abortion. In the Lords Second reading debate a stream of anti-abortion Peers took part in the debate and attacked current rights with pro-choice Peers speaking in defence of the 1967 Abortion Act. Pro-choice MPs are planning to table amendments to improve the law during the course of the Bill in the Commons. Amendments in the LordsAnti-abortion amendments that are anticipated are likely to include:
· Reducing the abortion time limit from 24 weeks to 22, 20 or even 13 weeks. Any such measures would have appalling consequences for the women who need later abortion.
Particularly over 20 weeks this is a small number of women but each faces difficult and individual circumstances. Women would be forced against their will to carry on with a pregnancy. Or, if they can afford to, women will travel abroad. Some may try more desperate measures.
· Imposing a ‘cooling off’ period and compulsory counselling for all women seeking abortion. Both measures assume women are not capable of making their own careful decision, creating further distressing delays and adding pressure at what can be a difficult time. We believe women should be trusted with this personal decision.
Amendments in the Lords can be tabled at the Committee stage, which can begin as soon as the second week in December, and also at the Report stage and Third Reading which is expected to take place in January 2008.
Pro-choice Amendments in the CommonsAfter the House of Lords, the Bill will go the House of Commons around February 2008 where amendments to restrict rights are expected again as well as a number of positive amendments to reform the law and improve abortion access for women
These are likely to include:
· Abortion to be available at the request of the pregnant woman within existing legal time limits by removing the need of two doctors’ signatures.
· Abortion services to be subject to the same statutory regulations as other medical services (i.e. ending the need for detailed notification to the Department of Health and certification by doctors of all abortions; and removing the need for premises to be specially licensed by the DOH to carry out abortions).
· Suitably trained nurse practitioners to be allowed to carry out early medical and surgical abortions, in both the NHS and non-NHS sector.
· Ensuring accurate information and non-directive support be available for all women facing an unintended pregnancy.
· The law in Northern Ireland to allow access to abortion commensurate with rights in the rest of the UK.
More detailed information on timetabling and amendments will be known as we go along.
Campaigning. The anti-choice lobby has called upon its supporters to lobby Peers and MPs. They are arranging for a briefing of Peers where Professor Stuart Campbell will show his emotive ‘4D’ scan images. Many Peers and MPs have not yet decided how to vote. They need to hear from pro-choice supporters URGENTLY.
Abortion Rights is lobbying Peers and MPs directly and in alliance with other pro-choice organisations. We will be organising a public initiative for pro-choice supporters to make their voices heard during the course of the Bill's passage in the Lords. Details to follow.
We are also planning a series of public initiatives during the Bill's passage in the Commons, including a lobby of Parliament and public meeting.
You can help by writing directly to your MP TODAY.
A model letter to help with this is below.
The Bill is expected to take only six months to pass through Parliament. This provides a relatively short window of opportunity to mobilise the pro-choice majority and ensure we are successful in opposing any restrictions to the 1967 Abortion Act and extending women’s reproductive rights.
Please speak to your trade union branch, student group, colleagues and friends to ask them to get involved, pass a resolution or organise a discussion or event. Everyone can sign up for updates and action alerts on the Abortion Rights website http://www.abortionrights.org.uk/ or by joining the Facebook group Abortion Rights UK.
Add your voice to the pro-choice majority: http://www.prochoicemajority.org.uk/
Louise Hutchins Campaigns Coordinator, Abortion Rights
WRITE TO YOUR MP!
The time has come for a concerted effort to lobby MPs throughout the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. The anti-choice lobby is already very active - MPs are receiving dozens of letters, cards and e-mails. We cannot allow this vociferous minority to dominate the abortion debate.
The most effective and successful way to lobby MPs is to write them a personal letter, ideally in your own words. Handwritten letters have a strong impact on MPs – below is a model letter showing an example of what you could write and some of the points you should raise. Encourage your friends / family / colleagues to write too!
To find out who your MP is and their address go to www.upmystreet.com/commons or call the House of Commons on 020 7219 3000.
Write to them either at their constituency address, if you know it, or at: House of Commons London SW1A 0AA
You can also contact them directly at http://www.writetothem.com/ which is a really useful campaigning website.
To make a lasting impact, meet your MP face-to-face during their weekly surgery. Let them know your concerns about the anti-choice campaign and the importance to defend the time limit and existing law. We can provide evidence based briefings and advice to help prepare your visit.
For more information on the issues to send to your MP download our briefing paper or other resources from the website. You could also point them in the direction of the recent Science and Technology Committee report, or contact Abortion Rights for further information.
Please forward any replies you receive to Abortion Rights to help us build up a picture of parliamentary opinion. You can email us at choice@abortionrights.org.uk or post copies of replies to 18 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL.
MODEL LETTER:
To …………………….MPHouse of CommonsLondonSW1A 0AA
Date:
Dear . . . . . . . . . . . .MP,
I am writing to you about the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill which is expected to receive amendments on abortion.
Improving abortion law for womenForty years since abortion was legalised in Britain, the majority of public opinion supports the right to choose but women continue to face unnecessary and sometimes distressing barriers to access. These could be easily remedied by reforming the 1967 Abortion Act.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill will provide a unique opportunity for MPs to support pro-choice amendments, which are in line with the recommendations of the Commons Science and Technology Committee report further to their enquiry into the scientific advances relating to the 1967 Abortion Act. These will include:
· Abortion to be available at the request of the pregnant woman within existing legal time limits by removing the need of two doctors’ signatures.
· Abortion services to be subject to the same statutory regulations as other medical services (i.e. ending the need for detailed notification to the Department of Health and certification by doctors of all abortions; and removing the need for premises to be specially licensed by the DOH to carry out abortions).
· Suitably trained nurse practitioners to be allowed to carry out early medical and surgical abortions, in both the NHS and non-NHS sector.
· Ensuring accurate information and non-directive support be available for all women facing an unintended pregnancy.
· The law in Northern Ireland to allow access to abortion commensurate with rights in the rest of the UK.
Defending current rightsI also wish to voice my concerns that anti-choice MPs will attempt to restrict women’s abortion rights, including reducing the legal time limit for abortion from 24 weeks to 22, 20 or even 13 weeks. Any such measures would have appalling consequences for the small number of women who need later abortion - each facing very difficult and individual circumstances. Women would be forced against their will to carry on the pregnancy. Or, if they can afford to, women will travel abroad. Some may try more desperate measures.
Other anti-abortion amendments expected would impose a ‘cooling off’ period and compulsory counselling for all women seeking abortion causing further delays and distress.
I urge you to vote against such damaging amendments for women.
As a constituent, I would be grateful if you could let me know your views on these matters. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require further information.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
(Sender’s signature)
Name Address Postcode
· Reducing the abortion time limit from 24 weeks to 22, 20 or even 13 weeks. Any such measures would have appalling consequences for the women who need later abortion.
Particularly over 20 weeks this is a small number of women but each faces difficult and individual circumstances. Women would be forced against their will to carry on with a pregnancy. Or, if they can afford to, women will travel abroad. Some may try more desperate measures.
· Imposing a ‘cooling off’ period and compulsory counselling for all women seeking abortion. Both measures assume women are not capable of making their own careful decision, creating further distressing delays and adding pressure at what can be a difficult time. We believe women should be trusted with this personal decision.
Amendments in the Lords can be tabled at the Committee stage, which can begin as soon as the second week in December, and also at the Report stage and Third Reading which is expected to take place in January 2008.
Pro-choice Amendments in the CommonsAfter the House of Lords, the Bill will go the House of Commons around February 2008 where amendments to restrict rights are expected again as well as a number of positive amendments to reform the law and improve abortion access for women
These are likely to include:
· Abortion to be available at the request of the pregnant woman within existing legal time limits by removing the need of two doctors’ signatures.
· Abortion services to be subject to the same statutory regulations as other medical services (i.e. ending the need for detailed notification to the Department of Health and certification by doctors of all abortions; and removing the need for premises to be specially licensed by the DOH to carry out abortions).
· Suitably trained nurse practitioners to be allowed to carry out early medical and surgical abortions, in both the NHS and non-NHS sector.
· Ensuring accurate information and non-directive support be available for all women facing an unintended pregnancy.
· The law in Northern Ireland to allow access to abortion commensurate with rights in the rest of the UK.
More detailed information on timetabling and amendments will be known as we go along.
Campaigning. The anti-choice lobby has called upon its supporters to lobby Peers and MPs. They are arranging for a briefing of Peers where Professor Stuart Campbell will show his emotive ‘4D’ scan images. Many Peers and MPs have not yet decided how to vote. They need to hear from pro-choice supporters URGENTLY.
Abortion Rights is lobbying Peers and MPs directly and in alliance with other pro-choice organisations. We will be organising a public initiative for pro-choice supporters to make their voices heard during the course of the Bill's passage in the Lords. Details to follow.
We are also planning a series of public initiatives during the Bill's passage in the Commons, including a lobby of Parliament and public meeting.
You can help by writing directly to your MP TODAY.
A model letter to help with this is below.
The Bill is expected to take only six months to pass through Parliament. This provides a relatively short window of opportunity to mobilise the pro-choice majority and ensure we are successful in opposing any restrictions to the 1967 Abortion Act and extending women’s reproductive rights.
Please speak to your trade union branch, student group, colleagues and friends to ask them to get involved, pass a resolution or organise a discussion or event. Everyone can sign up for updates and action alerts on the Abortion Rights website http://www.abortionrights.org.uk/ or by joining the Facebook group Abortion Rights UK.
Add your voice to the pro-choice majority: http://www.prochoicemajority.org.uk/
Louise Hutchins Campaigns Coordinator, Abortion Rights
WRITE TO YOUR MP!
The time has come for a concerted effort to lobby MPs throughout the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. The anti-choice lobby is already very active - MPs are receiving dozens of letters, cards and e-mails. We cannot allow this vociferous minority to dominate the abortion debate.
The most effective and successful way to lobby MPs is to write them a personal letter, ideally in your own words. Handwritten letters have a strong impact on MPs – below is a model letter showing an example of what you could write and some of the points you should raise. Encourage your friends / family / colleagues to write too!
To find out who your MP is and their address go to www.upmystreet.com/commons or call the House of Commons on 020 7219 3000.
Write to them either at their constituency address, if you know it, or at: House of Commons London SW1A 0AA
You can also contact them directly at http://www.writetothem.com/ which is a really useful campaigning website.
To make a lasting impact, meet your MP face-to-face during their weekly surgery. Let them know your concerns about the anti-choice campaign and the importance to defend the time limit and existing law. We can provide evidence based briefings and advice to help prepare your visit.
For more information on the issues to send to your MP download our briefing paper or other resources from the website. You could also point them in the direction of the recent Science and Technology Committee report, or contact Abortion Rights for further information.
Please forward any replies you receive to Abortion Rights to help us build up a picture of parliamentary opinion. You can email us at choice@abortionrights.org.uk or post copies of replies to 18 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL.
MODEL LETTER:
To …………………….MPHouse of CommonsLondonSW1A 0AA
Date:
Dear . . . . . . . . . . . .MP,
I am writing to you about the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill which is expected to receive amendments on abortion.
Improving abortion law for womenForty years since abortion was legalised in Britain, the majority of public opinion supports the right to choose but women continue to face unnecessary and sometimes distressing barriers to access. These could be easily remedied by reforming the 1967 Abortion Act.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill will provide a unique opportunity for MPs to support pro-choice amendments, which are in line with the recommendations of the Commons Science and Technology Committee report further to their enquiry into the scientific advances relating to the 1967 Abortion Act. These will include:
· Abortion to be available at the request of the pregnant woman within existing legal time limits by removing the need of two doctors’ signatures.
· Abortion services to be subject to the same statutory regulations as other medical services (i.e. ending the need for detailed notification to the Department of Health and certification by doctors of all abortions; and removing the need for premises to be specially licensed by the DOH to carry out abortions).
· Suitably trained nurse practitioners to be allowed to carry out early medical and surgical abortions, in both the NHS and non-NHS sector.
· Ensuring accurate information and non-directive support be available for all women facing an unintended pregnancy.
· The law in Northern Ireland to allow access to abortion commensurate with rights in the rest of the UK.
Defending current rightsI also wish to voice my concerns that anti-choice MPs will attempt to restrict women’s abortion rights, including reducing the legal time limit for abortion from 24 weeks to 22, 20 or even 13 weeks. Any such measures would have appalling consequences for the small number of women who need later abortion - each facing very difficult and individual circumstances. Women would be forced against their will to carry on the pregnancy. Or, if they can afford to, women will travel abroad. Some may try more desperate measures.
Other anti-abortion amendments expected would impose a ‘cooling off’ period and compulsory counselling for all women seeking abortion causing further delays and distress.
I urge you to vote against such damaging amendments for women.
As a constituent, I would be grateful if you could let me know your views on these matters. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require further information.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
(Sender’s signature)
Name Address Postcode
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