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Kurt Sansone
Italy’s new restrictive law on assisted reproduction, introduced in March this year which made it illegal for doctors to carry out pre-natal genetic diagnosis of embryos has created a diaspora of couples seeking this remedy in neighbouring countries.
According to Italian press reports this week, couples are also considering coming to Malta for such treatment but the Director of Maternity Services at St Luke’s Hospital and a leading doctor in the field of assisted reproduction, Prof. Mark Brincat told MaltaToday that such treatment is not yet available in Malta.
“The fact that Malta has no law regulating assisted reproduction does not mean we are a free for all. We had approaches from Italian institutes but we are not in a position to accept them at present,” Prof. Brincat said. He added: “We value co-operation with first class international institutes and clinics specialising in assisted reproduction and pre-natal genetic diagnosis but we would like to do this within a regulated environment.”
Pre-natal genetic diagnosis is applied in cases when couples are suffering from some sort of genetic disease and would not want their baby to suffer the same fate.
It is also used by couples who already have children suffering from Thalassemia and want to conceive a new child who is ‘compatible’ for a possible stem cell transplant.
Last month, twins born to an Italian couple from an embryo that was genetically diagnosed before implantation to ensure ‘compatibility,’ helped cure their five-year old brother who suffered from Thalassemia following a transplant of stem cells taken from the umbilical cord of the new borns. The genetic pre-natal diagnosis took place in Turkey.
Italians are flocking to a new clinic in the tiny landlocked republic of San Marino where legislation on assisted reproduction is not restrictive. Similar clinics in Cyprus, Belgium and Spain are also popular with Italian couples but are becoming increasingly expensive. The restrictive legislation adopted in March has raised the ire of many Italian couples whose hopes for having a child rest on modern scientific developments. The law passed in Italy has caused serious problems to couples. It is invidious that couples who can afford to go abroad for pre natal genetic diagnosis of embryos are doing so, so as to prevent genetic diseases in their offspring, whilst those who cannot stay at home and more often than not resort to diagnosis of the foetus in the uterus and then decide whether or not to go for an abortion that is legal in Italy.
Recognising the potential ethical and moral tribulations pre-natal genetic diagnosis can create, Prof. Brincat, however insisted that it was not all bad. “There are bad and good aspects to it. It does not necessarily have to be performed on embryos but can also be conducted on gametes and we are ready to co-operate with foreign clinics in such instances. We do not necessarily need to go the whole hog and carry out tests on embryos,” he said. The lack of regulation in Malta leaves the medical scientific community in a quandary and may also prevent new investment. It also prevents the provision of new medical facilities to our population as advances continue. “Assisted reproduction in Malta is conducted according to the highest ethical standards and in keeping with the practice adopted in Catholic universities abroad,” Prof. Brincat insisted.
“Malta needs to legislate for a competent regulatory body composed of people who are truly competent and who can understand the constant new developments that occur in the field as well as being sensitive to the humanity of the couples concerned. Legislation, the likes of which was introduced in Italy risks becoming outdated the moment it comes into force. We have to keep an open mind about new developments,” Prof. Brincat said.
kurt@newsworksltd.com
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