Prime Time
I was on Prime Time on RTE1 tonight. I was talking about the ruling in the frozen embryo case that was before the Supreme Court today.
Mary Roche appealed to the Supreme Court after losing her High Court bid to use her three frozen embryos after she split up with her husband. The Supreme Court ruled that her husband was entitled to withdraw consent as there was no explicit contract between the spouses. It also ruled that an embryo is not afforded any legal protection under the Constitution until it becomes implanted in the uterus.
You can watch here.
Fiona McPhillips is a freelance journalist and academic researcher. Having given birth to her son in 2003, she then faced three rounds of Clomid, three IUIs, two IVFs and suffered six miscarriages before giving birth to her daughter last year. She is currently expecting
another baby.
December 16th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Oooh, have John born before Christmas – definitely!! and best of luck
Saw you on Prime time – left a comment on the blog post about fertility/breast feeding. You looked brilliant, well done
December 16th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
The black hole of lack of legislation is very damaging, and won’t help in the establishment of any proper health service fertility treatments.
Definitions aside, purely on the withdrawal of consent of the husband, I think the decision was the right one.
December 18th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Such a controversial subject, but I do think it was the right decision. You looked brilliant and the kids are bloody gorgeous.
December 19th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Thanks Lorna! But John is my husband!!! He has chosen our little boy’s name – it’s his dad’s (who died in 2001) name. Luckily it is a cool name.
Martin – you’re right, they are delaying any discussion about providing treatment on the health service by saying it’s all part of the legislative process. I called when I was writing my book and was told that they hoped to provide IVF on the public health service for medical card holders but it was all dependent on the implementation of the Commission’s findings. In other words, passing the buck.
Thanks Denise!