Thailand’s Assisted Reproduction Act, which protects children born
from the In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) programme, goes into effect on
July 30.
Thai Minister of Public Health Dr. Ratchata
Ratchatanawin said that the act has been designed to help legally
married couple, who are medically proven to have reproductive
challenges, to undergo IVF programme. The law provides clauses to fend
off efforts by human trafficking ring or those intending to use the IVF
technique for commercial purpose.
The regulation now clearly
states that a conceived IVF baby is considered a legitimate child of the
parents undergoing IVF operation.
The Act also prevents parents
who received the reproduction assistance from denying parental
responsibilities of the conceived IVF baby, while imposing commercial
ban on assisted reproductive operation.
Under the new law, sperm
and egg donors must strictly follow the regulation. Violators will face
a jail term of 1-10 years or a fine of no more than 200,000 THB or
both.-VNA