MPs called for strong legislation on controversial subjects such as stem cell research and DNA testing during the second reading of a bill on Human Blood and Transplants at the House of Representatives yesterday.

The bill was approved unanimously and has been referred to the parliamentary committee for the consideration of bills.

Earlier, Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi explained how this bill was intended to transpose three European Union Directives about the matter. He said that parliament should also legislate on bioethics in the coming future.

He said the principles of the protection of life enshrined in the Catholic religion should be safeguarded as at the present there is a vacuum.

Dr Azzopardi said that this country is the most liberal in bioethics as there is no legislation which regulates it. “In our country, anything goes in this sector,” he said.

Will somebody give us assurance that no abuses are taking place in bioethics in this country despite the fact that nobody speaks? He said it was important for blood and organ donation to remain free.

Dr Azzopardi called for the establishment of a cord blood bank, where stem cells from the umbilical cord blood and placenta after birth can be stored for further use down the line.

He said there should be the legal structure for the regulation of cord blood banking once it is established.

Labour MP Jose’ Herrera agreed with Dr Azzopardi’s position against the use of stem cells from aborted foetuses as well as with the setting-up of cord blood banks.

He said that the law had not been adjourned in view of the developments in DNA tests to establish paternity.

The number of instances where men are asking for a paternity test are increasing in view of the increased sexual activity.

However, in order to prove that there is no paternity, the law still states that there has to be physical separation between the man and the woman to accept that he is not the father.

In recent years, the DNA proof was being accepted by the court as enough, but last June an appeals court ruled that the DNA proof is not enough. As a result of this, the family court has its hands tied.

He called on the government to intervene urgently in this respect and change the law as there are a number of people who are paying alimony unfairly.

Nationalist MP Michael Axiaq called for the signing of the Oviedo Convention for the protection of human rights and dignity of the human being with regard to the application of biology and medicine.

This convention prohibits insurers, employers and educational institutions from asking for a DNA pattern of the person.

He warned against DNA testing companies “fishing around” and establishing themselves in countries which do not have strong bioethics legislation.

Winding up, Health and Community Care Minister Louis Deguara said the blood and organ donation sector is largely up to EU standard, and it is mostly organisational changes that need to be made in order to transpose the EU directives on the matter.

Dr Deguara there are 55,000 persons who have a donor card. However, there are a number of relatives who still deny permission because they believe that the medical team would not take the best care of their relatives if they know they are organ donors.

On the legislation on bioethics and the Oviedo Convention, Dr Deguara said one had to be cautious and learn from experience abroad before taking any decisions in this respect.