Watchdog concerned over use of tissue from foetuses

FERTILITY experts are about to open to public debate the issue of using human ovarian tissue from dead women and aborted female foetuses to provide eggs for fertility treatments, it was announced yesterday, writes Celia Hall.

Professor Colin Campbell, chairman of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, said at the launch of the authority's annual report that the possibility of using eggs as the latest type of 'organ' donation was causing concern.

He said it was a new research area of reproductive biology, which was in its early stages. In the case of foetal tissue work it involved techniques for bringing the eggs to maturity.

Professor Campbell said: 'We think that it does raise issues of fundamental concern and that this authority would be wise to consult widely and have a public discussion about this possible development. We believe this is a development that raises profound moral and philosophical concerns.'

The authority also told the Department of Health that couples should only be allowed to choose their baby's sex on medical grounds, not for social, religious or family reasons.