UK fertility body warns against 'designer' babies

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Britain's fertility treatment regulator said Wednesday it would not bend its rules for a couple who want to choose the sex of their next child.

It warned that the case could set a dangerous precedent for "designer babies."

The Human Fertility Embryology Authority (HFEA), which regulates in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment in Britain, said Alan and Louise Masterton from Scotland would have to find a licensed clinic willing to argue their case.

The Mastertons, who have four young boys, want a baby girl after their only daughter was killed in an accident last year.

But the couple have yet to convince any of the five British clinics licensed to carry out such gender-selective treatment to take up their case, because the HFEA guidelines say the treatment should only be used to avoid serious genetic conditions.

"It was decided we would not allow it for any social, physical or psychological reasons," a spokesman for the regulatory body told Reuters. "Our policy is it should not be used to create designer babies."

"The treatment is to avoid serious conditions like cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy," he added, saying the Mastertons had not yet officially applied for permission for the procedure through an approved clinic.

One of the licensed clinics said its own ethics committee declined to apply to the regulator on their behalf precisely because of the HFEA's existing guidelines.

"The Mastertons are in a catch-22 situation," said Simon Fishel, director of the Center for Assisted Reproduction (CARE).

"We are all governed by our own ethics committee. We did put it to ours and their overriding concern was the view of the HFEA," he added, saying the Mastertons would however be able have the treatment abroad.

British media reported the couple were planning to argue their case in the courts under the European Convention on Human Rights, recently incorporated into British law.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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