Event Information

UK fertility law received its last major update in 2008, with the concept of a ‘permitted embryo’ being introduced. These rules have ensured that radical new reproductive technologies – although they might be legitimate and permissible in research – cannot legally be used in treatment, until and unless a decision is made to change the law…

The UK Government has signaled that fertility law could be revised in the near future.

In this webinar, life sciences regulation expert, Of Counsel, Julian Hitchcock will be speaking alongside fellow panelists on:

• Are there currently situations in which this area of law – or guidance relating to it – can be difficult to interpret?
• If the law is revised, should the concept of a ‘permitted embryo’ remain? If the concept remains, should it still be defined in the same way?
• Is there a case for permitting the clinical use of in vitro derived gametes – that is, sperm or eggs that have been created or matured in the laboratory?
• Is there a case for widening the approaches to mitochondrial donation that may legally be used in treatment?
• What issues are raised by the possibilities of genome editing? Is there a case for permitting the use of certain genome editing tools for purposes other than conventional genome editing?
• Some technologies in this area could potentially be used in vivo (inside the body) rather than in vitro (in a laboratory), in which case they would fall outside the scope of current fertility law. How should this be addressed?

For more information and to register, see the Progress Educational Trust website.