Health | SSM carries out public consultation on assisted procreation

The Health Bureau’s public consultation on techniques of medically assisted procreation began on Monday and will run until January 12. The consultation aims at creating a specific law for the complete regulation and strict supervision of offenses regarding medically assisted procreation.

According to a statement released by the Health Bureau (SSM), the health sector and the general public can use this consultation to learn about the content of the proposed law, and in particular, the public can discuss ethical and moral issues surrounding assisted procreation.

Between today and December 13, six special public consultation sessions will be held.

In May, SSM published some guidelines for the use of medically assisted procreation techniques. They regulate the basic requirements for health professionals who intend to perform such medical services.

“However, the respective regulations are unable to solve the problems caused regarding procreation techniques,” the SSM statement reads, “such as donation of gametes, pre-implantation, genetic conservation and diagnosis, among others; in addition to the deterrent effect implemented through the criminalization of infringements.”

Since June, SSM has detected seven cases of infractions involving situations related to providing medically assisted procreation techniques.

“Since there is not a specific law, SSM only applied administrative sanctions [over medical service providers] such as the suspension of activity and fines, among others. It is thus necessary to regulate all irregularities through a specific law,” SSM writes.

The content of the consultation consists of the applicable scope of medically assisted procreation techniques, prohibitions, rights and duties of the doctors and beneficiaries, as well as technical and operational requirements of those who wish to operate such services.

The following are “expressly prohibited: reproductive cloning, sex selection with the exception of the special circumstances of high risk of genetic disease linked to sex, chimeras or hybrids, replacement maternity, embryo creation for scientific research and experimentation, purchase or sale of ova, semen or embryos, among others,” as mentioned in SSM’s statement.

The consultation will also cover the supervisory powers of SSM, further endorsing SSM to reinforce sanctions against infractions. Moreover, it suggests the format of administrative sanctions (a maximum fine of MOP120,000), that criminal liability and imprisonment might result, and suggests ancillary or accessory penalties such as prohibiting offending practices to perform such procedures, and the closure of the establishments.