Doctor says life begins at fertilisation

A LEADING gynaecologist yesterday told the High Court if he had to choose when life begins, it is when fertilisation occurs.

Former Master of the Coombe Hospital Dr James Clinch was giving evidence in the second stage of the frozen embryo case where a woman is seeking orders preventing the destruction of three frozen embryos in a Dublin clinic which were left over after successful IVF treatment.

“In general, if in doubt a doctor comes down on side of life,” Dr Clinch said, a retired obstetrician and gynaecologist, and former chairman of the Irish Medical Council’s ethics committee.