POLICY ON THE PROVISION OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE SERVICES

The health and well-being of children born through the application of assisted human reproductive technologies must be given priority in all decisions respecting their use. The Regional Fertility Program firmly adheres to this ethical principle, which is expressly stated in the Government of Canada's Assisted Human Reproduction Act, the legislation governing the application of all human reproductive technologies in Canada.

To meet this priority, the Regional Fertility Program does require its prospective patients to attend a medical and psychological evaluation conducted by our physicians and/or our psychologists (the "Evaluation Team") prior to receiving assisted reproductive services. The purpose of this evaluation is to identify concerns which may affect the health and well-being of the future child and therefore preclude the provision of reproductive services (e.g., uncontrolled psychiatric illness, substance abuse, ongoing physical or emotional abuse, or a history of perpetrating physical or emotional abuse or other ethical issues.

Based on current research, it is the practise of the Regional Fertility Program not to provide assisted reproductive services that would result in a future child appearing racially different than the recipient or the recipient's partner.

Where the Evaluation team has concerns about the suitability for reproductive services of its prospective patients, those concerns will be communicated to the patients, who will be given the opportunity to respond. If the Evaluation Team is unable to provide services to the prospective patients due to continuing concerns, a referral to another fertility clinic will be provided.

The Regional Fertility Program does not permit discrimination on the basis of stereotypes, including gender, race or sexual orientation.