Whenever we discuss IVF in Malta, the focus is almost always on the benefits that these treatments offer to couples who are unable to have children. And it is right that we recognise this benefit. We should do everything that is ethically and scientifically possible to help those couples who wish to become parents.
But there is another aspect of this discussion that we can no longer ignore.
What will be the future of frozen embryos created through IVF?
Today the government is preparing to amend the law on IVF again.
The Prime Minister said that, as Opposition, we should not approach these amendments with "excessive moralism". But here we must be careful. Raising serious ethical and legal questions is not moralism. It is not an attempt to impose one's view on others. It is a legitimate exercise of reflection and scrutiny on the ethical, legal and social consequences of the decisions taken by Parliament.
One of my biggest concerns remains that of frozen embryos.
According to the latest Annual Report of the Embryo Protection Authority, there were 1,123 cryopreserved embryos in Malta by the end of 2024. To date, the Authority has not yet published the Annual Report for 2025 and therefore these are the latest official figures available to the public.
This is not a statistic that should go unnoticed.
If we truly believe that life begins at conception, as we have always maintained, then these are not simply frozen embryos. These are 1,123 human lives in the first stage of their development, frozen with no clear path forward.
And precisely for this reason, these are not questions that I am asking today for the first time. They are questions that I have already asked in Parliament and which, to date, have not yet been given a clear answer.
I asked what happens to the embryos if the parents decide they don't want any more children. I asked what happens if the couple separates. I asked what happens if one or both parents die. I also asked how many embryos are cryopreserved, whether there is a national registry of them, how many of them have been offered for donation and whether there have ever been cases where embryo donation has taken place in practice.
These are serious questions that, to this day, still await clear answers.
And these are questions that should not only concern those who have ethical concerns about embryo freezing. They should also concern couples who have chosen IVF and those who are considering making use of these procedures. After all, they are questions that directly affect the future of their embryos and the responsibilities they may carry with them over the years. Every couple has the right to know not only how these embryos are created, but also what might happen to them if, over time, life circumstances change.
Discussing these questions is not an attack on those couples. Quite the opposite. It is a sign of respect for them and for the great responsibility that comes with the decision to create embryos through IVF.
Maltese law attempts to regulate these situations. However, several academic research studies conducted at the University of Malta have examined the legal status of cryopreserved embryos, their donation and the disputes that may arise between prospective parents. The researchers conclude that, although the law attempts to provide a legal framework, there are still gaps and uncertainties about how these situations should be addressed in practice. In other words, there is a gap between the solutions provided by the law and what may happen in real life.
This is not an abstract issue. It is a reality that concerns couples, families and embryos that already exist.
In a mature democracy, such questions should not be seen as moralism. They are part of a serious debate that should accompany any change in law, especially when it involves the beginning of human life.
Therefore, I reject the idea that these are an example of "excessive moralism." They are legitimate questions that demand clear answers.
It's easy to talk about how much we're helping couples become parents. And yes, that's a noble objective.
But there is a question that the government can no longer avoid.
What will we do with the embryos that already exist?
If we believe that every human life has value from conception, then we also have a duty to speak out on behalf of those embryos that today lie frozen without a clear future.
Scientific progress is beneficial when it is accompanied by a strong sense of ethical responsibility. If, however, we begin to view every ethical or legal question as moralism, we would be making a serious mistake.
Progress in this area is not measured only by how well we help couples become parents. It is also measured by how much we respect every life that has already been created.
Ivan Bartolo MP
Shadow Minister for Social Policy, Family and Social Housing