Prompted by the long waiting list and the right to retain the anonymity of UK donors, most couples in the UK are going places in search of fertility treatment
In UK couples go abroad in order to undergo fertility treatment. The main reason for not taking it up in their own country is that there is a long waiting list and the second the right of anonymity for UK donors were removed by a law. Hence European fertility clinics are flocked with UK customers.
But the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is warning people about the mad rush towards European clinics. The main reason being the standards that are maintained at the European clinics do not match those in the UK. Dame Suzi Leather, chairman of the HFEA, said that the patients should know about the potential risks. She said that some of the treatments practiced in the European countries are very dangerous such as implanting five embryos, which significantly raises the chance of multiple pregnancies.This poses a great for both mothers and babies. She says that complaints received from such patients cannot be helped and it becomes very difficult for us to reassure them. Hence the patients should make informed choices in matters like these and not be too hasty in their decision. Patients should know before hand about the treatment and information such as the level of patient confidentiality and what rights they would have if treatment goes wrong. Clare Brown, chief executive of patient support group Infertility Network UK, said that patients would not travel abroad for treatment if they could access it in the UK.
