Sex Selection: when and why
A debate to launch the Science and Technology Committee's e-consultation on Reproductive Technologies and the law was held on Thursday 22 January 2004 at the Dana Centre.
Many people feel uncomfortable with the idea of choosing a child’s sex, to balance a family for example. Is this a good reason for the state to interfere with the people’s reproductive freedom, or are there dangers to the children themselves and/or society as a whole? The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority recently published a report recommending that sex selection should be allowed only to prevent serious disease. What is a serious disease? Is this the time to draw the line before the demand grows for so-called designer babies? Is a ban on social sex selection workable when the treatment is available overseas?
Chairman of the Committee, Dr Ian Gibson, introduced the discussion, jointly organised by the Science and Technology Committee and the BA, and other Members of the Committee took part.
Speakers
Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws (chair)
Professor John Harris
Josephine Quintavalle
Professor Marcus Pembrey
View Hansard Society Report of the e-consultation
For further information on Science and Technology Committee consultations currently running visit www.tellparliament.net
Many people feel uncomfortable with the idea of choosing a child’s sex, to balance a family for example. Is this a good reason for the state to interfere with the people’s reproductive freedom, or are there dangers to the children themselves and/or society as a whole? The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority recently published a report recommending that sex selection should be allowed only to prevent serious disease. What is a serious disease? Is this the time to draw the line before the demand grows for so-called designer babies? Is a ban on social sex selection workable when the treatment is available overseas?
Chairman of the Committee, Dr Ian Gibson, introduced the discussion, jointly organised by the Science and Technology Committee and the BA, and other Members of the Committee took part.
Speakers
Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws (chair)
Professor John Harris
Josephine Quintavalle
Professor Marcus Pembrey
View Hansard Society Report of the e-consultation
For further information on Science and Technology Committee consultations currently running visit www.tellparliament.net
