ISLAND VOICES
In-vitro questions already answered

By Philip I. McNamee, M.D.
Practice director at the Pacific In Vitro Fertilization Institute

Thank you for a most interesting and emotionally uplifting two-part series on advanced in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments now available for infertile couples in Hawai'i ("There's more than one way to make a baby: New techniques build hope, families for infertile couples," June 22; "The ethics of in-vitro," June 23).

However, I would like to correct some misinformation on the handling of frozen embryos. In Mary Kaye Ritz's second article, Dr. Gardner Bemis incorrectly implied the issue of frozen-embryo ownership had "not been worked out." Dr. Bemis said he hopes "someone in the in-vitro fertilization field is willing to pay attention to legal issues, so we don't end up with destroyed families along the way."

There is not just "someone" paying attention, there are thousands of professionals in the in-vitro fertilization, legal and medical professional fields and government agencies who have been "paying attention" to these, as well as many other legal issues since the first IVF baby was conceived back in 1978. Questions such as "Who owns frozen embryos in a divorce?" and "What if the wife wants a baby and the husband does not?" have long since been answered.

Leading the nation to ensure critical IVF issues are addressed is the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), a national professional organization that sets the standards for IVF. Members are required to adhere to these standards, which include frozen embryo IVF policies, medical practice, and ethical, advertising and laboratory guidelines.

SART also cooperates with the National Coalition for Oversight for Assisted Reproductive Technology, which includes representation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, American Bar Association, SART, RESOLVE (a national consumer infertility group), American Medical Association, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Federal Trade Commission and others as needed. The group discusses issues about IVF from multiple perspectives and forwards recommendations to SART for action. The family law section of the ABA also works hand-in-hand with SART.