By Vibecke Gudmundsen

The new UK regulations on in vitro fertilization (IVF) will erode the role of fathers, a senior Church of Scotland minister has warned.

The new rules shortly coming into force allow the women who conceive a child through in vitro fertilization or sperm donation to put any person as the second parent on the birth certificate. Reverend Ian Galloway, Convener of the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland, says he finds it deeply disturbing that the new rules have no requirement that the person named

Reverend Ian Galloway

as the second parent have any biological relation to the child.

“The Church of Scotland is stunned at the potential further erosion of the role of fathers, and is concerned that the falsification of information about one’s identity is the denial of a very fundamental human right”, Reverend Galloway said.

“Legal fiction”

The updated regulations by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) remove the previous clause that encouraged fertility clinics to consider a child’s “need for a father”. From April 6 it will be possible for women to name anyone as the “second parent” or “father”, as long as they are not in close relation to the woman giving birth. This allows friends or partners to be listed on the birth certificate, but not sisters or uncles, as they are within the “prohibited degrees” set out by the HFEA.

Reverend Galloway said it creates a “legal fiction”.

“At a time when parental responsibilities are in the spotlight, what message does this send to fathers, who are in danger from being erased from history”, he said.

Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe also underlined the role of fathers. She said: “Every child has got a right to a father and this bill for the first time quite deliberately creates a situation where children are born without a father.”

“A father plays a unique role in a child’s life. The effect is quite simple. You’re going to deprive a child from the outset.”

Apart from the implications the child conceived through IVF may meet in the society, concerns have been raised regarding the lack of genetic history in relation to illnesses. Also, there is a potential risk when the child grows up that related people may marry each other, which implies consequences for their children.

The new regulations on in vitro fertilization only affect women. Homosexuals that want to have a child through surrogacy will have to wait until next year for both of the men to be listed as parents of the child.

To read  more about in vitro fertilization click here.