Landmark legal action to decide fate of embryos

A LANDMARK legal action to decide the fate of three frozen embryos is due to be heard in the High Court today.

The case relates to embryos produced during IVF treatment undertaken by a married couple in a private clinic in Dublin some years ago. Six embryos were produced of which three were implanted and a daughter was born as a result three years ago. The remaining three were frozen.

The 38-year-old female plaintiff is seeking orders aimed at having the embryos thawed and implanted in her uterus. However, since the IVF treatment, the marriage has dissolved and the husband has refused to give his consent. The clinic has refused to release the embryos.