Doctor says no reason to destroy embryos

AN Italian doctor involved in new developments in IVF treatment has told the High Court it is “really difficult” to find a scientific reason to support the destruction of embryos created during such treatment.

Dr Eleonora Porcu said it was her view that an embryo is the beginning of human life and it was “totally arbitrary” and unacceptable to draw any type of distinction in the development of an embryo, such as distinctions between a pre-embryo, an embryo, a foetus, a newborn and an infant.

Dr Porcu works at the Assisted Reproductive Unit attached to the University of Bologna.