Dr Ian Gibson use the Human Embryolgy Act as a case study for how scientific advice helped to shape governement policy

1. Human Embryology Act 2008

2. 1955 Robert Edwards, PhD Edinburgh
Supervisor - Alan Beatty
1968 Fertilisation of Human Egg
(with P. Steptoe)
1978 First “Test Tube Baby” - Louise
Brown in Oldham General Hospital
2010 4 million children born by IVF
New innovations of:
(1)intracytoplasmic sperm injection
(2)embryo biopsy
(3)stem cell research

3. Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001
Regulations to extend purpose of embryo research
- serious disease and their treatments,
development of embryos.
Embryonic Stem Cell Research and therapeutic
cloning - HFEA License
No reproductive cloning
Regulation of sperm sorting-sex linked disorders
requiring sex selection, 2003
HEFA Disclosure of donor (age 18), 2004
European Union Tissues and Cell Directives

4. 1982 Warnock Committee (implications of
new technology)
1987 White Paper
1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act
Formation of HEFA:-
(a) Regulates and inspects all UK clinics providing in
vitro fertilisation
(b) Artificial insemination
(c) Storage of human eggs, sperm or embryos
(d) Regulates human embryo research
(e) Creation of human embryos and a database

5. Human Fertilisation and
Embryology Act 2008
1. House of Commons Science and
Technology Select Committee 2005
‘Human Reproductive Technologies and the
Law’
(a) Legislative framework since 1990
(b) Technological advances and recent
changes in ethical and societal attitudes

6. Human Fertilisation and
Embryology Act 2008
• Science and Technology Select Committee
Inquiry – Sources of Evidence:
Oral Witnesses:
Learned Societies and Interest Groups - 20
Individuals – 41
Government Bodies - 11
Written Evidence:
Learned Societies and Interest Groups - 30
Individuals – 42
Government Bodies – 4
Companies - 1

7. Human Fertilisation
and Embryology Act 2008
1. House of Commons Science and
Technology Select Committee 2005
‘Human Reproductive Technologies and the
Law’
2. Department of Health - review of 1990 Act
(Public consultation and White Paper) -
Government proposals for revision
3. Joint Committee of both Houses on Bill
4. Final Bill - Lords to Commons

8. Human Fertilisation and
Embryology Act 2008
1. Ban on selecting sex of offspring
2. Creation and use of human embryos outside
body to be regulated
3. Requiring clinics to take account of the welfare of
the child and no account to be taken of child’s
need for a father
4. Both partners recognised in same sex
relationships as legal parents of the child
5. Embryos containing both human and animal
material to be regulated – human admix embryos

9. Current responsibilities
of the HEFA
To monitor and licence clinics carrying out IVF
and human embryo research
To maintain a register of licences of clinics,
research establishments and storage centres
Regulate storage of gametes and embryos
Implement the requirements of the European
Union Tissue and Cells Directive to relicence
IVF clinics, interuterine insemination and
gamete intrafallopian transfer

10. The HFEA Today
Incorporated into ?
Investigating compensation to donors
Multiple births to be reduced
Making the facility to eliminate mitochondrial
disease possible with 3 parents
To consider views of professional bodies,
patient groups and NHS funding bodies

11. Further reading
www.newtons-apple.org.uk
Articles