Government’s 3-parent baby plan risks genetic abnormalities, says Fiona Bruce MP

In an article for Conservative Home, Fiona Bruce MP has highlighted the growing public safety concerns surrounding the Government's plans to introduce a new IVF technique that will result in the creation of children with three parents.

Earlier this year, the UK Government published draft regulations and indicated its intention to press ahead with the proposals, despite widespread concern that the technique could result in children being born with serious abnormalities. 

Crucially, Fiona Bruce notes that the regulations were published despite recommendations by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) that a series of further, critical tests should be carried out before proceeding with human trials.

"Shocking and concerning"

"That draft legislation should have been produced and consulted upon when there are still critical preclinical safety experiments yet to be recommended let alone conducted, and the results written up and published, are both shocking and concerning," she said.

"No mother wants to conceive a child with mitochondrial disease but neither do they wish to conceive a child with genetic abnormalities because we have rushed into introducing scientific techniques which should have been tested more robustly."

Read the full article here >

Listen to Fiona Bruce speak about the proposals on Radio 4’s Today programme here >

Read Christian Concern's response to the recent HFEA consultation on plans for "three parent babies" by clicking here >