Scientists in the UK are offering women £500 for their eggs to enable them to create genetically modified children with three biological parents.
Careful scrutiny
Last week, Peers voted against a move to allow more careful scrutiny of the proposed technique, despite significant ethical, safety and legal concerns being raised. Regulations permitting the procedure – known as mitochondrial replacement therapy - will come into force in October this year.
However, ahead of the outcome of the vote, scientists at Newcastle University began advertising for women to donate their eggs to help the team ‘pioneer’ the new technique. The advert said the university was “looking for fit, healthy women between the ages of 21-35 years old who are willing to donate their eggs. Donors will receive £500 compensation for a completed donation cycle.”
Lord Alton criticised the move, warning that egg procurement procedures carry the risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome, a condition which harms nearly 500 donors a year, and which is classed as severe in about 60 of the cases.
“Dangerously placed”
“Women’s health is wantonly and dangerously placed at risk by hyper-ovulation,” he said.
“In addition, one of the procedures involves the destruction of the human embryos fertilised by the eggs.”
He added: “The enticing of women, who may well be unaware of the risks, and who may be in dire financial straits, with offers of substantial sums money, only adds to the reasons why the House of Lords should insist that this is given further consideration.”
“Exploitative”
Andrea Williams of Christians Concern said: “This advert is calling on women to put their health at risk by donating their eggs for money. The move is exploitative of those in financial difficulty and is likely to appeal to vulnerable women, including students, who may view this as a quick and easy solution.
“Significantly, the advert was overly premature, having been published prior to the regulations being approved. Preparations to begin clinical trials should not have begun whilst the safety and ethical concerns raised by the procedure were still being debated by Parliament.
"This demonstrates the over confident attitude of the scientists who seem to think they can break all ethical, scientific and moral boundaries without repercussions.
"Why isn't there more of an outcry about this?
"What are we doing to protect vulnerable women who fall prey to this?"
Related News:
Scientists seek donors for '3 parent babies'
'3 parent babies' approved by House of Lords
Door open for 'same-sex-parent' babies
Related Coverage:
Egg donation for research: an urgent call for volunteers! (CMF)
Three parent babies: women paid £500 to become 'second mothers' (Telegraph)
Scientists offer women £500 for their eggs following three-parent baby vote (Catholic Herald)