I am just appalled by the “egg sharing” program that the United Kingdom has launched. Here’s how it works. If you are a poor woman, and you can’t afford IVF treatment, the UK will give you a 50% break in your IVF treatment costs IF (and this is the smelly for sure) you will give HALF of your eggs to cloning researchers.

I think it should be noted that in any IVF procedure, requiring eggs to be used – the eggs are always ‘graded’. Just like in the grocery store. Some eggs are of better quality than others. So in this “sharing” scheme – who do you suppose will get the grade “A” eggs?

Alison Murdoch who is a leading cloning researcher at Newcastle is “delighted” that these women have come forward.

The social injustice here must not be overlooked.

And with all the yammering about universal health care, why doesn’t the UK offer IVF treatment to their citizens?

So now the medical profession has entered into bartering!

Here’s the press release:

Egg sharing: North East women come forward

Fifteen women undergoing IVF treatment are to take part in a world-first scheme in Newcastle.

They are the first to receive IVF treatment at Newcastle’s Fertility Centre at Life at a reduced cost in return for donating some eggs for research.

They came forward after the North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI) received final approval and funding for the scheme known as egg sharing.

Under the scheme, women receive about half of the cost of their IVF treatment, £1500, in return for the donation of half their eggs.

One hundred women came forward and, after testing and counselling, fifteen were found to be suitable and six begin treatment this month.

Scientists at the North East England Stem Cell Institute believe the funding will lead to an increase in the number of eggs for research which could lead to faster progress in stem cell therapies. The project continues over two years.

Professor Alison Murdoch who is leading the project at the North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI), says “We are delighted at the excellent response from women in the North East to this important research. We hope that significant progress will be made in the research and that it will also help many couples to have a family from IVF treatment.”

People interested in finding out more about egg sharing should call 0191 282 5000 or download more information and a form at

www.nesci.ac.uk

Author Profile

Jennifer Lahl, CBC Founder
Jennifer Lahl, CBC Founder
Jennifer Lahl, MA, BSN, RN, is founder and president of The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network. Lahl couples her 25 years of experience as a pediatric critical care nurse, a hospital administrator, and a senior-level nursing manager with a deep passion to speak for those who have no voice. Lahl’s writings have appeared in various publications including Cambridge University Press, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Dallas Morning News, and the American Journal of Bioethics. As a field expert, she is routinely interviewed on radio and television including ABC, CBS, PBS, and NPR. She is also called upon to speak alongside lawmakers and members of the scientific community, even being invited to speak to members of the European Parliament in Brussels to address issues of egg trafficking; she has three times addressed the United Nations during the Commission on the Status of Women on egg and womb trafficking.