Parliament has approved amendments to the IVF law, which will see the introduction of genetic testing. Most Opposition MPs voted in favour of the amendments, but three refused to toe the party line and voted against. The three MPs were former PN leader Adrian Delia, Mosta MP Ivan Bartolo and Gozitan MP Alex Borg.
The amendments, one of the Labour Party’s key promises for its first 100 days in government, will allow doctors to perform genetic tests on IVF embryos before they are planted in the womb. The testing will look for nine rare genetic conditions, and any embryo found carrying a genetic condition will be frozen.
PN leader Bernard Grech has said that after the government took on a number of amendments which were suggested by the party, the Opposition would be voting in favour of the amendments.
However, a number of the party’s MPs said they should be given a free vote.
Most vocal of those was former PN leader Adrian Delia, who has said that he will vote according to his conscience, saying that he did not agree with testing embryos that could endanger or be fatal to human life.
Delia’s views – which were aired on his Facebook page – prompted calls from other MPs for the party to grant a free vote on the matter; something which party officials said had not been demanded by anyone at any point during 10 hours of parliamentary group discussions.
When a vote was called on Wednesday evening, Delia said he was voting against the amendments, arguing that these go against his beliefs and conscience. He said he is in favour of life from its conception till its natural end.
Delia said that he is in favour of the amendments which allow for Polar Body Testing, allowing for testing for genetic disorders on the oocyte before the embryo is formed. Delia however said that he is against testing on the embryo itself, which one in five tests lead to the discarding of the embryos.
Delia said that this amendment goes against the Embryo Protection Act and has decided to vote against.
PN MP Stephen Spiteri spoke next, “on behalf of the rest of the Parliamentary Group,” saying they would be voting in favour of the amendments.
The law, he said, regulates the process of IVF, facilitating the process for more couples to be able to have more children.
Spiteri said that in agreement with the government, testing on the egg before the embryo is formed will also be possible, and professionals in the service will ensure that prospective parents make informed and consensual decisions for the good of the embryo.
But when the vote was taken, 66 MPs had voted in favour and three had voted against.