Government whip, Dr Godfrey Farrugia took to a local parish leaflet to express his concerns over the possible introduction of embryo freezing in Malta.

In his article on the front page of ‘Is-Sliem’, Dr Farrugia explains in profound detail the process involved in embryo freezing but does not hold back from urging the public to understand that an embryo is the first stage of life.

He titles his short article ‘The first stage of my life was an embryo’ and starts off by describing an embryo as ‘the product of a unique and distinct union’ between a sperm and an egg.

“This marks the beginning of a process which will eventually create a foetus, a baby, a young person and an adult. This is how we came to be, me and you. It is for this reason that every embryo has a right to live.”

Dr Farrugia insists that science is not refined enough to save each and every embryo from dying during the freezing process.

The new proposed law will allow for parents to fertilize five eggs instead of two. Only two of these will be eventually planted into the womb while the rest are put into a freezer. Those that are not chosen can be stored into the freezer for a number of years.

“This can cause for a large number of embryos to be accumulated, eventually offered to other parents who cannot conceive children.”

Dr Farrugia believes all this will lead to a lot of uncertainties or even abuse.

He ends his article in bold by writing - “No to the killing of embryos. You and me, our life started as embryos.”

Godfrey Farrugia has made public his opinion on the matter before in comments to The Malta Independent. He had said that the “facilitation of reproduction should never be detrimental to a human life.”

Rumours say that the Labour Party Parliamentary group is somewhat divided on how to vote on the matter.

Contacted by this newsroom, Dr Godfrey Farrugia explained he had written this article months ago but was published just now.

Asked whether MPs will be given a free vote, Dr Farrugia said this decision has to be decided by the Parliamentary group.

It also appears that the Ministerial Inquiry on embryo freezing is either not concluded or has not been made public to the MPs.