Italians failed to take their chance to overturn the country鈥檚 restrictive laws on fertility treatment and embryo research when the majority of those eligible failed to vote in a referendum last weekend.
For the referendum result to be binding, at least 50 per cent of eligible voters had to take part. But only 26 per cent turned out 鈥� a victory for the Vatican, which had urged people to stay at home. The outcome means that Italy retains Europe鈥檚 strictest law on embryo research and IVF. It was introduced last year to stamp out the IVF 鈥渇ree-for-all鈥� that had pre-dated the legislation.
鈥淭he Italians are going back to the Middle Ages,鈥� comments Ian Gibson, a British MP who backs increased liberalisation in embryo research. 鈥淚t鈥檚 absolutely ridiculous.鈥�
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Among other things, the law forbids the freezing of embryos, forcing women to undergo the painful and risky process of egg collection during every attempt at IVF or ICSI. Only three eggs can be fertilised after each retrieval, and all three must be transferred back to the woman, risking multiple births. The law also bans research on embryos, the use of donated sperm and eggs, and the screening of embryos for genetic diseases, no matter how serious.
Pope Benedict XVI argued that a vote to re-liberalise the law would have posed 鈥渁 threat to life and the family鈥�, and supporters of the Catholic church hailed the result as a great success.
Meanwhile, many Italian couples seeking fertility treatment are likely to continue voting with their feet. The number going abroad for treatment has reportedly trebled since last year鈥檚 law came into effect.
