For students

Dr Ellie Lee
Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Kent and coordinator of Pro-Choice Forum.
"People should have the right to choose as parents can be trusted to make decisions about what is in the best interests of their family."

I support the motion because I believe in freedom of choice for parents.
I believe that the current regulations are too strict.

Windows Media Player Hi res [40MB] Lo res [11MB]
QuickTime Hi res [29MB] Lo res [13MB]

Dr David King
Director of Human Genetics Alert.
"If we choose our children's sex, we will expect them to perform according to our consumer specifications, as a 'proper' boy or girl."

I oppose the motion because we cannot allow sexism or consumer desires to determine who gets born.
I believe that the current regulations are too lax.

Download opinion piece [PDF 450KB]

Alan and Louise Masterton
Campaigners for reproductive choice and Trustees of the Nicole Masterton Trust.
"Reproductive choice is one of the most important rights that we have, and scare-mongering about 'designer babies' must not be allowed to justify interference in these choices."
We support the motion because in the absence of harm we should respect the informed choices of mature adults.
We believe that the current regulations are too strict and that they are outdated.

Download opinion piece [PDF 450KB]

Josephine Quintavalle
Director of Comment on Reproductive Ethics (CORE).
"Parents do not have the absolute right to choose. Society's duty to protect the interests of children and prohibit discrimination is much more important."

I oppose the motion because all sex selection is based on discrimination.
I believe that the current regulations are too lax.

Windows Media Player Hi res [49MB] Lo res [27MB]
QuickTime Hi res [30MB] Lo res [14MB]

Sara Nathan
Member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and its Ethics and Law Committee (1998-2005).
"Sex selection is fine for medical reasons, but any social reasons are heavily outweighed by the discomfort, stress and resources that would be involved."
I support sex selection for medical reasons, but for family balancing I think the risks are greater than the possible gains.
I believe that the current regulations are appropriate.

Download opinion piece [PDF 450KB]

Dr Mohammed Tarinissi
Director of the Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre in London.

"All of the evidence suggests that PGD poses no health risk, but I think that it should only be used for medical reasons."

I support sex selection for medical reasons as medicine is all about making use of new technology to alleviate serious medical conditions.

I believe that the current regulations are unnecessarily precautionary.

Windows Media Player Hi res [36MB] Lo res [13MB]
QuickTime Hi res [23MB] Lo res [11MB]

Dr Peter Mills
Policy Manager at the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).
"In the light of concerns about safety and reliability, sex selection should only be used where there is already a risk to the welfare of a child who may be born, in order to reduce the overall risk."
I support sex selection for the avoidance of serious genetic disease, but I am opposed to using it for non-medical or 'social' reasons.
I believe that the current regulations are appropriate, but this balance must be continually reviewed as our knowledge develops.

Peter speaks on behalf of the HFEA. The HFEA was set up by the Government to regulate fertility treatment and embryo research. You can find out more about the HFEA by referring to its frequently asked questions.
In 2003/03 the HFEA consulted experts and members of the public for their views about sex selection. A summary of the report produced [PDF 176KB] is available for download.

Windows Media Player Hi res [26MB] Lo res [10MB]
QuickTime Hi res [16MB] Lo res [8MB]

Frank Furedi
Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent.
"The HFEA's ban on sex selection reveals its deep distrust of parents and interferes in parents' justifiable expectations for their children."
I support the motion because it is not the job of the HFEA to police parents.
I believe that the current regulations are too strict.

Download opinion piece [PDF 450KB]