Revisiting the Regulation of Human Fertilisation and Embryology

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 was a major update to the UK’s laws on the use reproductive technology and regulation of assisted reproduction. This was legislation which, according to the minister responsible, would ‘ensure that the law remains effective and fit for purpose in the early 21^st century’. Since the enactment of the new law, the sector’s regulatory body, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), has also consulted on various related topics including barriers to egg and sperm donation in the UK, multiple births/single embryo transfer, and using IVF technology to prevent mitochondrial disease with a view to publishing recommendations.

This book critically evaluates the recent developments, asking whether the Act has achieved the stated aim of being ‘fit for purpose’ or, if not, what should be done to improve it. The book looks at various aspects of the law and ethics of human fertilisation and embryology and topics covered include: problems with DIY assisted conception; attribution of legal parenthood in cases of surrogacy; mitochondrial DNA transfer; as well as chapters which compare the UK’s regulation to the situation in Canada and Australia. It brings together a range of experts in order to evaluate the fresh risks and challenges emerging from both established and existing technologies and techniques in the field of human fertilisation and embryology, as well as offering valuable insights into the social and regulatory challenges that lie ahead.