Britain streamlines fertility treatment checks

Couples seeking fertility treatment will undergo fewer, fairer and faster checks under new guidelines to see whether they will be suitable parents, Britain’s fertility watchdog said on Thursday.

British law requires all clinics to make an assessment of the welfare of any child born using fertility services before a woman can receive IVF treatment.

The old checks meant doctors had to be consulted in every case and would-be parents also had to answer “vague and subjective social questions” as part of the assessment, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) said.

The new changes will mean that clinics should assume treatment will be provided unless there is evidence that the child is likely to be at risk of serious harm.

Doctors will also only be consulted when clinicians believe further investigations are necessary.

However, factors such as a history of drug or alcohol abuse, previous convictions for harming children, or a medical history, which could mean the child being born with a serious medical condition, would still have to be examined closely.

“By focusing more clearly on the risk factors that could lead to serious harm, we will have a system that is fairer for patients and more proportionate for doctors whilst still protecting children’s interests,” said Suzi Leather, chairman of the HFEA.

“Where they have concerns, clinicians will still contact GPs, social services or other relevant bodies.

“These new guidelines will enable medical teams to get on with the job and will give patients reassurance that the process will not be unjustifiably burdensome or intrusive.”

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