Adrian Vassallo disagrees with IVF law on principle

The Labour Party said today that while it would back the IVF Bill, Labour MP Adrian Vassallo had expressed his disagreement with the Bill as a matter of conscience, while noting that it was not included in the electoral manifesto on which he was elected.  Following talks with party leader Joseph Muscat, it was agreed that Dr Vassallo would be free to explain his position during the debate on second reading and he would vote against the Bill in that stage. He would back amendments proposed by the PL during the committee stage. Opposition spokesman Michael Farrugia explained the party’s position in parliament yesterday. He said the Opposition would back the Bill and it agreed with the government on the principles of the Bill, but the Opposition would move some amendments. In its statement today, the PL said it was wrong that potential parents needed the go-ahead of the new regulatory authority before starting IVF treatment, insisting that was a confidential matter between the couple and their doctor. It  insisted that the provisions of the Bill should not be a restrictive  ‘one size fits all’ since there could be different requirements according to the medical condition and age of...