4 months Ago
Preventing Inherited Diseases Through Embryo Testing
At present, about 380 people per year use embryo selection, or PGT (Preimplantation Genetic Testing). This medical process is designed for individuals with a family history of serious genetic conditions. Through IVF, a woman's eggs are fertilised outside the body, and the resulting embryos are tested for illnesses such as cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and hereditary ovarian cancer. Only embryos without the disease are selected for implantation.
Under the proposed amendment, PGT would be allowed not just to prevent illness in children but also to detect whether embryos carry the gene responsible for hereditary diseases. This would allow parents to make more informed decisions about family planning.
MPs Harry Bevers (VVD) and Jan Paternotte (D66), who are behind the proposal, emphasised that this is not about cosmetic traits. "It's absolutely not intended to let parents 'shop around' for things like eye colour or hair colour," said Bevers. "It's only about stopping the transmission of serious genetic conditions."
Political Future of the Bill Uncertain
The bill will be presented to the Tweede Kamer, the Dutch parliament's lower house, this week. While there has long been political debate about expanding the Embryo Act, the current parliament has a conservative majority, making approval of the proposal uncertain.
Still, VVD and D66 appear to be positioning the topic as a key part of their election platforms, hoping for a majority in the next term to push it forward. "Even if we help just one or two more people, that's already significant," Bevers said, underlining the proposal's focus on preventing serious health conditions.
