Sir, Andrew Lansley’s approach to the fertility watchdog, the HFEA, to review the current restrictions on allowing a new IVF technology to be tested in humans is welcome news for families (“One baby, three parents, no disease”, Mar 11).
However, we regret that the panel selected to review this treatment consists only of scientists. There is no patient representative, despite it being patients who ultimately bear the related risks and despite the complexity of the moral and ethical issues involved.
We urge Mr Lansley to request the inclusion of a patient representative on the panel that will decide whether this treatment is allowed to move forward into clinical trial.
Dr Marita Pohlschmidt
Director of Research Muscular Dystrophy Campaign