Embryonic bias

IT is shocking that the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction would seek to stifle debate on embryonic research by inviting only a limited number of journalists to the launch of its report recently.

This decision is hardly surprising as the commission has shown itself inherently biased in favour of the pro-embryonic research lobby given its composition and the choice of speakers at its Dublin Castle conference in 2003.

If the commission is unwilling to be subjected to full public scrutiny regarding these proposals, then it ought not propose them.