Three parent' children in the UK
27th October 2015
The changes that will allow 'three parent' children to be born in the UK for the first time will come into force on 29 October 2015. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Mitochondrial Donation) Regulations 2015 allow IVF therapy to be carried out, in certain carefully prescribed circumstances. The therapy involves the nucleus of a donated egg being removed (leaving the rest of the egg intact). The nucleus of the mother's egg is then implanted either before or after it has been fertilised. Although any baby born will have genetic material from three people he or she will still only have one or two individuals recognised as legal parents- the woman whose egg nucleus was used and her husband or partner, if she has one.
SKO are at the forefront of advising on the Scots family law issues arising from assisted reproductive technology (ART) and surrogacy. Rachael Kelsey and Robert Gilmour can be contacted for more information if you are affected by the issues raised here.
