Legislation and Regulation Governing Reproductive and Gene Technologies

Section Topic: Legislation and Regulation Governing Reproductive and Gene Technologies

  • The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990: This UK law regulates artificial reproduction methods like IVF and the use of human embryos in research. It established the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) as the supervising body for this field.

  • The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008: This modification to the original 1990 Act permits the use of “saviour siblings” – embryos screened to be a tissue match for an existing sick sibling. It also allows mothers to be genetically unrelated to their children (for example, using a donor egg and surrogate womb).

  • The Human Genetics Commission: This UK advisory body, active since 1999, provided advice to government on human genetics with a particular focus on ethical, social and legal implications.

  • The Genetic Manipulation Act 1983: An Australian law, it was one of the first to address genetic manipulation. Although this is not a UK law, understanding of equivalent laws in other jurisdictions is helpful in comparison studies.

  • American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM): While not a legislative body, the ASRM provides ethical guidelines for fertility practises in the United States which impacts genetic and reproductive technologies.

  • GDPR and Health Records: Explains how the General Data Protection Regulation (EU law that is still effective in the UK post-Brexit) affects the management of health information, including genetic data, in a healthcare setting.

  • Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act 2008 (GINA): This is a US law prohibiting genetic discrimination in health insurance and employment, underlining the ethical considerations in genetic technologies.

Remember, individuals’ rights to privacy and non-discrimination are critical in any discussion about genetic and reproductive technology regulation, hence the relevance of some legislation that isn’t specifically focussed on genetics but has implications for the field. Always consider the ethical implications when discussing legislation in this field. Understanding the role of these legislative bodies, laws and regulations can enable better appreciation of the complexities and controversies in the field of reproductive and gene technologies.