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19/06/2003
Healthy 'designer baby' born in Sheffield
The British couple who were denied permission to have a so-called 'designer baby' in the UK, have announced the birth of a healthy baby boy at a Sheffield hospital.
The couple, Michelle and Jayson Whitaker, had sought permission to receive test-tube treatment – or pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) – in the UK but were denied that right at the High Court.
The Whitakers had to travel a specialist clinic in Chicago for treatment.
The family plan to use stem cells from baby Jamie's umbilical chord to treat their first-born child, Charlie (4), who suffers from diamond blackfan anaemia – a rare and potentially fatal condition.
The stem cells from the umbilical chord are said to be perfect match for the treatment of Charlie's condition.
The birth is expected to see a rush of other such cases.
The BMA said that the issue been "debated extensively", and the organisation believes that PGD should be permitted "in exceptional" cases.
Dr Vivienne Nathanson, Head of BMA Ethics and Science, said: "As doctors we believe that where technology exists that could help a dying or seriously ill child, without involving major risks for others, then it can only be right that it is used for this purpose.
"The welfare of the child born as a result of the treatment is of crucial importance, but in our view this is not incompatible with allowing the selection of embryos on the basis of tissue type. We would like to take this opportunity to wish the Whitaker family well."
(GMcG)
The couple, Michelle and Jayson Whitaker, had sought permission to receive test-tube treatment – or pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) – in the UK but were denied that right at the High Court.
The Whitakers had to travel a specialist clinic in Chicago for treatment.
The family plan to use stem cells from baby Jamie's umbilical chord to treat their first-born child, Charlie (4), who suffers from diamond blackfan anaemia – a rare and potentially fatal condition.
The stem cells from the umbilical chord are said to be perfect match for the treatment of Charlie's condition.
The birth is expected to see a rush of other such cases.
The BMA said that the issue been "debated extensively", and the organisation believes that PGD should be permitted "in exceptional" cases.
Dr Vivienne Nathanson, Head of BMA Ethics and Science, said: "As doctors we believe that where technology exists that could help a dying or seriously ill child, without involving major risks for others, then it can only be right that it is used for this purpose.
"The welfare of the child born as a result of the treatment is of crucial importance, but in our view this is not incompatible with allowing the selection of embryos on the basis of tissue type. We would like to take this opportunity to wish the Whitaker family well."
(GMcG)
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