Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

MP backs ‘saviour siblings’ debate

Tom Rowley
28/ 5/2008

GLOSSOP MP Tom Levitt welcomed the House of Commons vote allowing scientists to develop ‘saviour siblings’ to cure medical conditions which are currently fatal.

Speaking in a debate on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, Mr Levitt told MPs about a three-year old boy from High Peak.

His parents do not want to be identified by name or address.

David suffers from a rare form of anaemia and has a life expectancy of under 20 years.

His family is one of just six in the country licensed for producing ‘saviour siblings’.

Under this technique, embryos produced by IVF are screened so that a baby can be born with healthy bone marrow, some of which can later be transplanted to their sibling.

With a conventional bone marrow transplant, the boy would have a 30 per cent chance of survival — with a saviour sibling transplant it is 95 percent, with better long-term prospects.

Transplant

No match has been found which would allow him to have a conventional transplant.

Mr Levitt told the House of Commons: "David’s parents are desperate that their child and others with similar conditions should be able to live.

"They have asked me to beg the House to let David live, to accept the proposals for saviour siblings outlined in the Bill, to ensure that when that choice is the right choice and the only way forward, it is not ruled out for families such as David’s."

The toddler’s father supported Mr Levitt in an interview for BBC Radio 4.

However, the family wish to preserve their anonymity because, as Roman Catholics, their church takes a different view on this issue.

The Commons had a free vote on several clauses of the Bill and voted in favour of saviour sibling technology with big majorities.