Overview

This bill amends the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act to prioritize the welfare of women undergoing fertility treatment. It mandates the consideration of various factors impacting women's well-being throughout the process, including the emotional and financial burdens, and promotes better data collection and analysis of treatment outcomes.

Description

The bill makes several key changes:

• Duty of Care: It adds a duty to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to consider the welfare of women undergoing fertility treatment, specifically addressing marketing, emotional impact, costs, and support services availability.
• Data Collection and Analysis: It requires the HFEA to collect and publish anonymized data on live birth rates per embryo, drugs administered, dosages, number of eggs harvested, and adverse health outcomes for women and children. This aims to improve understanding of treatment effects.
• Assessment of Disclosure Provisions: The Secretary of State must assess the efficacy of current data disclosure provisions for research into women's welfare during fertility treatment, consulting with relevant parties and publishing a report with recommendations.
• Licence Conditions: It amends licensing conditions to explicitly include consideration of the woman's welfare.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending figures. The costs will likely be related to the HFEA's increased responsibilities in data collection, analysis, and reporting, as well as any initiatives arising from the Secretary of State's assessment of disclosure provisions.

Groups Affected

• Women undergoing fertility treatment: Directly affected by improved welfare considerations and data collection.
• The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA): Takes on new responsibilities for data collection and reporting.
• Fertility clinics: Will need to comply with new data collection requirements and increased focus on women's welfare.
• Researchers: May benefit from improved data availability for research into women's welfare in fertility treatment.
• Government: Responsible for funding the HFEA's expanded role and the Secretary of State's assessment.

Powered by nyModel