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A National centre to help couples who fear passing on dangerous genetic conditions to their children is to open in Glasgow.
The Scottish Executive will fund the new pre-implantation genetic diagnosis service to help at least 15 families a year. But today doctors insisted they would not be helping couples to create ‘designer babies’ unlike controversial units in England.

Glasgow Royal Infirmary will work with experts in genetic conditions from the Duncan Guthrie Unit at Yorkhill Sick Kids, offering fresh hope to families throughout Scotland. Some of the patients from all over Scotland treated at the NHS centre, which opens next month, will have experienced multiple miscarriages as a result of pregnancies that could not survive to term.

The PGD technique involves fertilising a number of the mother’s eggs and then studying the embryos before they are placed in her womb. This will allow the doctors at Yorkhill to make sure that only embryos which are not affected by genetic damage are implanted, reassuring the couple that they should have a healthy pregnancy.

Consultant Robin Yates, of the assisted conception centre, which will run the service, said it would offer new hope to couples who had given up. The clinic will be able to help couples at a high risk of having a child with a range of conditions including muscular dystrophy and Huntington’s disease.

Dr Yates insisted: “This is not about having designer babies. We will help couples to select embryos which do not have genetic problems.”

Some couples are devastated after a chromosomal abnormality has caused a series of miscarriages. In recent years the clinic has treated five Scots families under a pilot scheme and some of them have gone on to have healthy babies. It will now offer the service to up to 15 couples a year.

Health Minister Andy Kerr said: “I am delighted that this service will be introduced as a National Service and benefit patients throughout Scotland. PGD is a relatively new procedure and previously patients from Scotland were referred to centres in England. I am pleased patients will now be able to receive this treatment closer to home.”

He said the decision to make the clinic a national service, funded by all health boards would help to increase efficiency and give patients the best care possible.

When the clinic first opens, some couples may still have to go to London for some of the most advanced tests.

Source: online Evening Times