The Bill provides for revised and updated legislation on assisted reproduction and for changes to the regulation and licensing of embryo use in research and therapy. A draft Bill, the Human Tissue and Embryos Bill, was scrutinised by a joint committee of both Houses. Proposed changes to the Human Tissue Act 2004, such as the establishment of a new body called RATE, have been dropped. The revised name of this Bill reflects that change. The Bill includes provision for research into different types of embryos, and proposes changes to definitions of legal parenthood for cases involving assisted reproduction. Amendments to abortion law were tabled during the passage of this Bill. These were discussed by a Committee of the whole House but not passed.
BMA, Briefing Paper on The Abortion Act 1967, November 2007 Summary of the BMA's position on the Abortion Act The BMA supports amending the Abortion Act 1967 so that, in the first trimester (up to 13 weeks): * abortion is available on the same basis of informed consent as other treatment, without the need to meet specific medical criteria * the requirement for two doctors to confirm that the abortion meets the legal criteria is removed. The BMA believes that: * any changes in relation to first trimester abortion should not impact adversely on the availability of later abortions. The BMA does not support: * any reduction in the current 24-week time limit * the extension of nurses or midwives roles in abortion under the Act * extending the current rules regarding “approved premises”.
Department of Health, Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act: Proposals for revised legislation (including establishment of the Regulatory Authority for Tissue and Embryos) (Dec 2006), Cm 6989