Scott Lynda: Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee 
Scott Lynda: Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee 
[Volume:620;Page:15900] 
Dr LYNDA SCOTT (National—Kaikoura) 
: 
 The Assisted Human Reproduction Bill which was a Government bill introduced in 1998 and the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill which was a member’s bill introduced in 1996 in the name of Dianne Yates basically became a hybrid with a Supplementary Order Paper which we have in the Committee tonight. The Health Committee worked very comprehensively on this bill. It is highly technical and I think we have all agreed on the outcomes. 
Unless people have actually been through the process of knowing what it is like to not be able to have a child when a family wants that and when mum and dad are desperate to have a child they do not fully understand how emotive these issues can become. To get a bill on human assisted reproductive technology that will meet the requirements of those people who are emotionally involved in the process plus protect society from those people who would want to experiment at a level that most people would not find acceptable is what has been the aim of this bill. 
The bill itself under the purposes and principles establishes that there will be no cloning no hybrid embryos and no commercial surrogacy. Now surrogacy in a non-commercial sense is going to be acceptable under this bill but not in a commercial sense. 
Stem cell research of course in other countries of the world has been highly contentious. For those members who read the 
 New Zealand Herald 
 this morning they will have seen that even in the American presidential elections it has become a huge debate where Kerry has actually blasted George Bush over health-care cuts because he wants to stop stem cell research. In this country I think we are lucky to have this bill coming before the House at this time rather than 5 or 6 years ago because technology and our understanding of what can be done and what is acceptable has moved a great deal as developments have occurred. 
When the Health Committee went to Australia 2 years ago one of the main topics being debated at that time was about human assisted reproductive technology and stem cell research. As a doctor and a geriatrician I have to support stem cell research. It can or may offer huge advances for the future. It may offer huge advances for patients who may have diseases such as Parkinson’s disease—a disease that affects a very small part of the brain the substantianigra but causes massive problems and disability and eventually the death of the patient. Anything that for the future could stem the tide or perhaps turn it round and effect a cure of a disease such as Parkinson’s or motor neurone disease I think it is our obligation that we should be able to continue that research here in New Zealand and throughout the world. The purpose of this bill is to give a robust and flexible framework to regulation and guide the performances of future assisted reproductive technology. Things change markedly in this area sometimes just by accident; someone finds a better way or observes a better way to actually have a positive outcome. 
 The other principal concern within this bill is that of the donor children—those children who are actually created as a result of a donated egg or sperm. These children do need to have access to their genetic information and I certainly support Dr Paul Hutchison’s Supplementary Order Paper which would mean that a register of donors is kept so that children can have access. 
We had a lot of debate about the age at which a child should be able to get access to the actual name of the donor and that will remain at 18 but the genetic information will be available before that time. 
Also of concern for the purposes and principles of this bill was how we allow additions perhaps to the list of prohibited actions that is contained in schedule 1. What would be prohibited and what would be considered to be acceptable progression for reproductive purposes? How do we add something to the list and how do we take it off?