‘Pro-lifers’ treating IVF supporters like ‘criminals’ - Farrugia

Reacting to criticism by Gift of Life spokesperson Paul Vincenti, over his declaration to donate his parliamentary salary increase to help couples adopt frozen embryos, Farrugia said that “we are either going to increase fertility in Malta and address the demographic problem, or we are not.”

Farrugia explained that only very recently, a 24-week old foetus only survived for one day, following the death of its two siblings earlier during the pregnancy, adding that one cannot compare an embryo to a foetus that has progressed throughout part of the pregnancy.

“These are being aborted naturally as a result of multiple embryos being implanted into the uterus,” Farrugia said. He added that all experts consulted by the committee agree that implanting more than two embryos should be avoided, though two can be used during the first cycle and another two saved for a later cycle.

Pro-lifers Gift of Life entered into a row with Farrugia, over his declaration Monday that he would kick-start fiscal incentives for couples to adopt frozen embryos, using the money from a salary raise for MPs.

Gift of Life, which is against artificial insemination and proposals by Farrugia’s select committee on assisted reproduction, said it was against a fund that would encourage infertile couples to adopt unwanted, frozen embryos.

“It’s an admission that [Farrugia’s] recent recommendations to allow for regular freezing of embryos will result in unavoidable stockpiles of unwanted human embryos  - presenting our country with an ethical quandary,” Gift of Life spokesperson Paul Vincenti said.

In a comment to this website's comment board, Vincenti's wife Karen said Gift of Life was not against IVF but against the freezing of human embryos.

But Farrugia has already said he wanted to encourage infertile couples to adopt frozen embryos, so that all ‘unwanted’ embryos created during artificial insemination are used. ‘Leftover’ embryos are a by-product of the process, which usually involves the insemination of three or more ova.

Farrugia said he will donate two whole years' arrears of the increase in MPs' honoraria to the embryo fund.

“Dr Farrugia is now suggesting that couples should be incentivized through fiscal measures to have these stored frozen embryos implanted or adopted. Once the absolute respect, value and dignity of human life from conception are lost, it is only a matter of time before other equally disturbing ideas are considered as society degrades morally,” Vincenti said.

Vincenti said the implantation of frozen embryos was akin to the “trading of human organ donation”.