Former Nationalist Minister Tonio Fenech insists that, rather than breaking ethics and morals to improve the odds of IVF pregnancies by very marginal levels, it should instead help infertile couples adopt children more easily and in a safer way.  

The IVF amendments proposed by Health Minister Chris Fearne will see the introduction of embryo freezing, surrogacy and gamete donation.  The amendments have proved to be very controversial, with many arguing that they are immoral and other saying that we should allow science to help infertile couples conceive.

In an opinion piece published in this newspaper today, Fenech weighed in on the debate, questioning the Government’s intention to help childless couples. He drew upon the 10% increase in pregnancy from embryo freezing, inquiring whether it was worth the moral and ethical concerns the amendments have arisen.

Fenech claimed that the Government is overselling of amendments in order to improve statistics. He insists that “people are not statistics.” He referred to data showing that only six out of 26 women from the last IVF cycle became pregnant, adding that with the new amendments their chances would only improve marginally.

The former minister argued that the Government should instead be focusing on providing infertile couples with safe, secure and affordable adoption opportunities. “Adopting a child from outside Malta (as not much opportunities from Malta) costs around €40,000.  There are no regulated agencies, you don’t know for what you are paying and no guarantees” Fenech explains.

The Government should be setting up an agency where children can be adopted make it more certain, cheaper for prospective parents and ensuring that process is all above board. He added that the Government should be focusing on the legal difficulties of unwanted Maltese children from institutional or fostering homes when it is in their best interest.

Fenech deems the Government’s real motive to be not on infertile couples but same-sex couples. “While they have every right to their choices, society cannot be blamed for what nature has dictated,” he concludes.

For opinion piece in full click here