Australia up for sex selection review!

[Determined]

Matilda I was looking at past forum discussions in this space and read a comment about an old person on board who is anti gs , religious and seems to control the board. Do u have Any further insight? Do u really think aust has a chance or it's just a politically stunt to consult with public ? Do u think genea would be involved.


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[MatildaMai]

The board is the board. I think until the composition of it changes its going to be hard to get it through. Australia was an incredibly conservative country when they banned GS in 2004 and it still is. And it doesn't help that every time someone does a poll 4 out of 5 say they are against GS! Mind you (as one of the articles I've copied in below points out) when you get couples in the privacy of an IVF clinic over 50% of them say they'd like to choose the sex of the baby! Thats the weird thing about GS - privately most have a preference whether its a pigeon pair, or more boys than girls or vice versa. But actually admitting any sort of preference is taboo - like it makes you a bad person or parent or something.

I'd be amazed if Genea and the other major IVF clinics were not making submissions and pushing hard. They are monitoring those of us that go overseas. Its not just dozens of us anymore. They know there are hundreds and hundreds of us in Australia now going each year. They see first hand the lengths we are willing to go to and the $$ we are willing to spend. $$ we'd otherwise be spending with them. And most of us don't have fertility issues (unlike their usual patients) so it would be easy $ and great for their success rates!

Genea has been forced to set up a joint venture with SART to try and recapture some of this revenue. That is how financially worthwhile this is to them. The article below says Genea saw 120 couples go to SART for GS in 18mth period. I'm sure there are that many again (at least) going to the US or other Asian clinics in Malaysia and Thailand, and then there are those of us who manage to get around then ban and cycle here.

I think whatever arguments we as individuals make are unfortunately neither here nor there. This will actually be won and lost on the business case put by the clinics. That, and perhaps on the grounds of the potential danger to citizens health by travelling for medical procedures. If there is one thing Australia is, it is protectionist towards its industries and convinced that it knows what's best for us all!

Australian couples travel overseas to avoid ban on choosing their baby's sex - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Baby sex-selection tours increasingly popular with Australian couples using IVF | News.com.au

[Determined]

Interesting quote from first article "Many fertility specialists in Australia believe that under the right circumstances and with the right counselling, it probably is a treatment that should be offered in Australia," he said.




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[Determined]

So how could this change benefit the board? If we think about $$$$$ for them. Isn't that how we all work slaves to a financial system filled with politics


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[Determined]

It's just a thought but I'm keen to hear viewpoint on how Nhmrc can benefit from this? I'm thinking something in the research space


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[3boys531]

I know of dr's and Genea dr's as well that are on the board pushing for this. They think the laws are stupid and if they could they would change it but unfortunately they can't. One day maybe. Maybe for our children.

[sunshine3]

Determined - the details of the working committee who are reviewing Part B are here:

https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/health-ethi...e-technology-a

The page includes a PDF link (ART Working Committee) that shows the names, experience and declaration of interests of committee members. These are the people who will be drafting the guidelines and making recommendations to the Aust. Health Ethics Committee (who I believe make the final decision).

The members of the Aust. Health Ethics Committee are here:

Australian Health Ethics Committee (AHEC) | National Health and Medical Research Council

I don't know if you will recognise any names from the old post you said you were reading. Based on a super quick google search I can't really tell who the "pro GS" ones would be.

I haven't thought how GS could benefit the NHMRC... but if you come up with one it would be a great angle! Have you finalised your submission yet?

[Brinny]

I simply said that some families are spending up to $150,000 on IVF/PGD and that money would be better spent on the Australian Health System, rather than overseas


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[Brinny]

Anyone else want to do a submission? Bump


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[Determined]

Already have


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