Read the wording of the letter to the members of the Bundestag here:
Dear Member of the German Bundestag,
The Humanist Association of Germany (HVD), which represents the interests of non-denominational people, is committed to people’s right to self-determination. For us, this includes the option for parents to test an artificially fertilized egg for serious genetic damage before it is implanted in the uterus in order to avoid a possible termination of pregnancy, stillbirth or miscarriage. The couples concerned cannot be deprived of their right to self-determined decisions in these matters. As these are hereditary diseases, there is usually a concrete experience of living with this disease. The parents therefore have the necessary competence to decide whether a child with this predisposition should be carried to term.
The proposals of the groups led by Birgitt Bender MEP Drs. 17/5450 and René Röspel, Member of the Bundestag Drs. 17/5452 which want to ban PGD completely or restrict it even more, is considered by the HVD to be misogynistic and inhumane. A couple who are aware of the possibility of a serious hereditary disease and take the difficult path of artificial insemination must have the opportunity to use modern medical diagnostics. If this is not possible, the alternative means an unreasonable, because avoidable, burden for the woman: the only option is often an abortion if damage is detected after the embryo has been implanted.
Against this background, we would like to ask you to support the draft by Ulrike Flach, Peter Hintze and Dr. Carola Reimann Drs. 17/5451 support. This would create legal certainty for the parents concerned, but also for the doctors treating them.
We are happy to discuss this topic with you.
With kind regards
signed. Prof. Dr. Frieder Otto Wolf
– President –P.S.: Please find attached our statement of January 3, 2011 and an open letter from our Hessian regional association.
