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PGD in Italy: 1PB Testing
Ethical issues
 Besides
the social issue, preconception genetic diagnosis could also
address to some ethical issues which has been largely
responsible for Italian rejection of PGD on embryos for any
purpose.
The new Italian law is inspired by the principle of
the inviolability of human life from its inception, thus
aiming to protect every early pre-implantation embryos.
Persons who hold the view that embryos are already persons
or subjects with rights, strongly oppose PGD because it
leads to selection of healthy embryos and discarding of the
affected ones.
In particular, the act of discarding affected embryos could
also be considered disrespectful by someone, hurting persons
bearing the burden of a genetic disease.
The identification,
by 1PB testing, of oocytes that are mutation-free, prior
their fertilization, obviates to the above criticism,
preventing the loss of any embryo while maintaining the aim
of the achievement of unaffected pregnancies and the birth
of healthy children.
We are also confident that, once removed the main ethical
obstacle that has prevented PGD acceptance in Italy (i.e.
genetic testing on embryos) through application of
preconception genetic diagnosis, Italian lawmakers will
arrive at a fully agreed compromise, allowing the access to
IVF technique also to couples who are not infertile but are
carriers of genetic diseases.
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