We have to be quick or many embryos of Maltese human beings may end up dead.

This is the state of affairs at present in Maltese politics – with the country’s politicians preparing to discuss a Bill regulating the process of IVF.

While I am sure we all agree that regulating a process, which so far has been unregulated in our country for years, is a good thing, one would hope we would enshrine in this and all future laws respect for the human organism from its beginnings – i.e. from fertilisation or what is otherwise known as conception.

The main discussion in a nutshell is this. All (well I should say many not all because the Catholic Church is not in favour) agree now, thankfully, that oocyte freezing will be the cornerstone of the approach, as opposed to embryo freezing. All agree too that in exceptional circumstances – for example when the mother dies after fertilisation, or when the mother suffers hyperstimulation syndrome, that then the embryos produced should be frozen instead of discarded in order to save the embryos themselves. In the case of maternal death/other serious problems, this will have to open the option of embryo adoption.

The bone of contention is that some providers of IVF services, as well as some politicians from both political parties, contend that if, when fertilising three oocytes, three embryos are successfully conceived, two may be implanted and one frozen to reduce the risk of triplets in the mother (itself a rare occurrence if three are implanted) and to have another embryo ready for future implantation if the IVF cycle fails. This will help increase success rates for IVF clients, nothing to sneeze at but at too high a price morally speaking.

Others, like myself, would suggest that the three fertilised oocytes (which may not all be healthy embryos and which may not all survive) are implanted. In older women, where the chances of getting pregnant are smaller, four embryos may be fertilised and all four implanted. This way, no one exposes human beings (as embryos) to the procedure of freezing (from which only 66 per cent will recover for future implantation) nor choosing between embryos. I think the fixed limitation of two embryos for all cases is too strict and different options for different fertility problems should be written into the law and continually assessed by a specialist and ethical body as recommended by Dr Karl German recently in the press.

The Church is still reeling from the divorce debacle and appears not too keen to use much muscle to fight this corner, even because it holds an all out official position against IVF.

However, this is about freezing human living organisms – human beings in their early life and letting some of them die or be forgotten in a vat of liquid nitrogen. This is a MUCH more important issue than divorce but much less visible to the public eye and therefore unlikely to garner the support of the likes of the no divorce movement.

But gain support it well might – people might well want their rights in terms of interpersonal relations without wanting to start down the slippery slope of not respecting human life at its weakest and earliest – a slope that may eventually lead to abortion.

For this reason I believe that with an election round the corner, it is only fair and right for all party candidates, of all three parties, to spell out their opinions on this important matter. I have personally spoken to the present leaders of both major political parties. Dr Gonzi gave the impression that he is thankful there is the option of egg freezing (vitrification), thus he generally gave the impression he is against embryo freezing. Dr Muscat on the other hand gave me the impression he is all for oocyte vitrification but will not exclude embryo freezing to enhance options available to those seeking IVF – therefore appearing to be in favour of freezing.

Should I be wrong in what I have indicated above, I would be ever so glad for each to correct me.

I think Malta is currently riding a wave of liberalism with no one wanting to seem too conservative.

However, some battles need to be fought and none more so than defending the preciousness of human life in all circumstances.

So I encourage all those interested to sign the petition by Citizens for Life or to join the Professionals Against Embryo Freezing or otherwise to make their mindset known to political parties, Church and other society leaders.

Pierre Schembri-Wismayer MD PhD

ZABBAR