|
THE government is to sanction fatherless families by giving single women and lesbian couples an entitlement to fertility treatment. Patricia Hewitt, the health secretary, will propose that women should get IVF treatment without having to fulfil a legal requirement that the child has a father figure.
The present law states that fertility doctors should take account of a child’s need for a father before offering a woman treatment, irrespective of whether it is on the National Health Service or private.
However, doctors, politicians and gay groups say this is now outdated because family units have changed to include single mothers and lesbian parents.
Ministers believe the law could fall foul of the Human Rights Act, which sets out an individual’s right to a family life and freedom from discrimination.
They also believe the present obligation to consider a child’s need for a father could contradict the government’s equality bill, which will outlaw the refusal to provide goods or services on grounds of sexual orientation.
Family campaigners will oppose the changes, which are expected to be contained in the Queen’s speech this week and will be introduced in a revision of the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act.
Josephine Quintavalle, of Comment on Reproductive Ethics, said: “The current act merely says that the need for a father should be taken into account.
“To eliminate even this token gesture towards the role of the father is an example of gender correctness at its most ridiculous and discriminates against men.”
The law will be welcomed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the body that regulates fertility treatment, and the Commons science and technology committee.
Dr Evan Harris, a Liberal Democrat MP and a member of the committee, said: “The dropping of this discriminatory and unnecessary provision is long overdue.”
| 
