Bioethics: the Assembly authorizes the self-preservation of oocytes

Paris (AFP)

The National Assembly voted Friday the article of the bill bioethics allowing the self-preservation of gametes for future pregnancies, much to the chagrin of the right who denounced any professional pressures and the risk of late pregnancies.

Article 2 was adopted by 39 votes to 5.

"The evolution of the society, the duration of the studies, the inscription in the active life, the love life, make that the women tend to have children more and more tardily and thus expose themselves to a risk of infertility, "said Health Minister Agnès Buzyn to justify this measure.

"The age of first childbearing, today 28 and a half years old, is five years older than one or two generations ago, partly for professional and personal reasons but also because of effective contraception, "said the co-rapporteur of the text Jean-Louis Touraine (LREM).

"To allow these late parenting projects to be realized, we can propose to women and men to keep their gametes so that they can postpone their child project," said Secretary of State Adrien Taquet, stating that the intention was "obviously not to encourage young people to do so".

The self-preservation of gametes was hitherto very framed and authorized for medical reasons (cancer, endometriosis ...).

Right-wing deputies have raised the risk of pressure from employers to force women to postpone a pregnancy, the medical risks of late pregnancy or the possible constitution of a "procreation market".

"You play the sorcerer's apprentices, and tomorrow the companies will plan the pregnancies," said Valérie Boyer (LR).

On the other hand, the left has welcomed a step forward for the right of women to choose.

To avoid certain excesses, the text provided age limits that will be defined by decree and the need for written, renewable and revocable consent. The shelf life has been limited to ten years.

"Our project provides for coverage by the health insurance collection of gametes but their conservation will be the responsibility of people and can not be supported by the employer," said Mr. Taquet.

The Assembly also returned to an amendment voted in committee against the opinion of the government which authorized private for-profit institutions to make collection and conservation of gametes. Only public or private but not-for-profit institutions will be able to do so.

MEPs also adopted a trans-partisan amendment calling for the establishment of a national plan to combat infertility, which, like the cancer plan, would include research efforts, the training of health professionals and information to the general public, especially the younger ones.

In the evening, MPs began consideration of Article 3, another key article in the bill that intends to allow persons born through assisted reproductive health (PMA) to access non-identifying data as well as the identity of their gamete or embryo donors.

"The secret of the origins, the lie about the conditions of conception are deleterious, to be able to know the truth, to have the possibility for those who wish to have access to the identity of the person who participated in their birth. to be a basic need for these people, "Adrien Taquet pled.

© 2019 AFP