‘Restrict in-vitro service’

Press, 31 October 1984, Page 8

‘Restrict in-vitro service’

PA Auckland Unmarried couples should be denied any fertility advice at National Women’s Hospital, says an Auckland Hospital Board member, Mrs Connie Purdue. She proposed at Monday evening’s board meeting that in-vitro fertilisations services be restricted to married couples. She said that the service was open to couples in a stable de facto relationship “but you , can’t define de facto these days — whether

it is a 20-year relationship or just two copulations.” When the board’s chairman, Dr Frank Rutter, asked where she would draw the line on fertility advice, Mrs Purdue said that all infertility services should be denied to unmarried couples. “You have got to consider the child. Babies have a better chance if they are born to married people,” she said. Dr Rutter said that he thought Mrs Purdue’s wish was “oppressively discrimi-

nating” but several other members, including the Rev. Peter Carter, Dr Bruce Faris, and Mr Douglas Brebner, supported her stand. Dr Faris said that the restriction would be a “helpful holding situation” to reduce the long waiting list for the service. Mrs Purdue later withdrew her remit when the board decided to set up a sub-committee to investigation the legal and social issues of the in-vitro service.

The superintendent-in-chief, Dr Leslie Honeyman, said that the social and legal issues associated with in-vitro fertilisation were not solely medical responsibilities. Dr Rutter said that the Government should release early guidelines for doctors on what was acceptable to the public. No in-vitro fertilisation is done in Christchurch. The sperm donor programme in Christchurch does not cater for unmarried people.