In Vitro Fertilisation;amdt. Line 1:

EDM number 29A1 in 1989-90, proposed by Peter Thurnham on 18/01/1990.

Leave out from 'House' to end and add 'rejects the reasoning in Dr Marsden Wagner's article in The Lancet of 28th October, noting that this article was, by Dr Wagner's own later admission, not written under the auspices of the World Health Organisation; notes that The Lancet of 2nd December published three letters, from eminent practitioners, which together refuted all the erroneous allegations in the article; notes in particular that in series of over 11,000 treatment cycles at one respected clinic there have been no major problems with ovarian cysts, no incidence of thromboembolic disease, stroke or myocardial infarction, and no significant increase in ovarian cancer; notes, too, that the source cited in the article with reference to ovarian cancer is a 400-page book containing no data implicating fertility treatment; further notes that the incidence of abnormalities among IVF babies at birth is of the order of 2 per cent., which is lower than national figures for unassisted conception; notes that prematurity, which affects perinatal morbidity and mortality, correlates closely with the occurrence of multiple births, the incidence of which will continue to diminish if research is allowed to continue; further notes that the financial cost of IVF treatment alleged in the article fails to address the complexity of the comparisons which must be made in calculating an accurate figure; and fully supports sustained research in this field in order that the success rate of IVF treatment may continue to improve and that such risks to mothers and babies as do exist may continue to diminish.

This is a ammendment to 29.

This motion has been signed by a total of 1 MPs.