The Ministry of Health’s Response to Bioethics Advisory Committee’s Recommendations on Donation of Human Eggs for Research

05 Nov 2008

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has studied the Report by the Bioethics Advisory Committee (BAC) on Donation of Human Eggs for Research. The BAC’s recommendations are in line with international ethical norms and will further protect the interests of egg donors. MOH accepts all its recommendations.

Most of the BAC’s recommendations on informed consent have already been implemented through the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act, as egg donations would have to take place in MOH licensed healthcare premises.  MOH will, however, study how the recommendations pertaining to the procedure of taking consent could be further strengthened.

The BAC has reiterated its stand against the commercialisation and sale of human eggs, but has clarified in its recommendation that egg donors could be paid and that such payment could include compensation, in addition to any reimbursement of expenses incurred by the donors. BAC explained that: “A guiding principle for the BAC is one of fairness, in that an altruistic donor should not be expected to suffer any financial loss from her donation, in the form of out-of-pocket expenses, loss of time and earnings, and cost of treatment for any medical complications, that may arise.”

MOH has observed the distinction made by the BAC between “reimbursement” (repayment for incurred expenses), “compensation” (recompense for loss of time and earnings), and “inducement” (incentive to donate because of monetary gain).  While trading of human parts is considered unethical, compensation not tantamount to inducement is not unethical as it seeks to protect the welfare of the donors.

MOH will amend the Human Cloning and Other Prohibited Practices Act to put the BAC’s recommendation on donor compensation into effect.  (The Act currently only allows for reimbursement of reasonable expenses of the egg donor.)  MOH will also study how the BAC’s recommendation on protecting donors when complications arise could be implemented.

Ministry of Health

5 November 2008