Judges back creation of ‘designer babies’

THE spectre of babies being created for “spare parts” was brought closer yesterday, as the British House of Lords declared “designer babies” can be used to treat siblings with genetic disorders.

The move will allow a British couple, Raj and Shahana Hashmi, to genetically design a child using IVF treatment so that they can take tissue from the new child to save their terminally ill son, Zain.

Yesterday’s test case centred on an Appeal Court judgment in April 2003 which overturned a ban on the use of fertility treatment to help save the life of the terminally-ill boy.