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BFS Statement on ECHR judgement on
Natallie Evans case
10 April 2007
The statement below is issued by Dr Allan Pacey, Secretary of
the British Fertility Society on the Grand Chamber Judgement by
the European Court of Human Rights on the case of Natallie Evans.
Dr Allan Pacey, Secretary of the British Fertility Society said:
"It is a very sad situation that Natallie has found herself
in, and we'd like to express our sympathy to her. To freeze embryos
is currently the only realistic way that many women can preserve
their fertility before embarking on cancer treatment. As in many
countries, the UK has clearly established principles of shared responsibility
from both the sperm and egg provider concerning the fate of any frozen
embryos up until the point that they are transferred back into a
woman. This will have been explained to Natallie and her partner
at the time their embryos were created and the BFS considers that
it is only fair to Mr Johnston that this principle has been upheld.
However, the BFS hopes that this situation might be avoided in the
future by encouraging progress to be made in the science and practice
of freezing and storing eggs. This would mean that women could bank
their eggs before cancer treatment, in the same way that men are
able to bank their sperm, and would avoid the need to create embryos
at that time."
For more information: please contact the British Fertility Society press office
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