NCW panel to examine ethical, medical, legal aspects of ART, IVF services
New Delhi: The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Tuesday constituted three expert groups to examine the ethical, regulatory, and medical aspects of Assisted Reproductive Technology and IVF services, with a special focus on safeguarding women's reproductive rights.
The decision was taken during the first meeting of the Expert Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), IVF Clinics and Protection of Women's Reproductive Rights, convened by NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar.
According to the PTI report, in a statement, the commission said the meeting marked the commencement of the committee's deliberations to comprehensively examine the ethical, legal, regulatory and medical aspects of ART and IVF services, with a special focus on safeguarding women's reproductive rights.
"To ensure a comprehensive and focused examination of the various dimensions of Assisted Reproductive Technology and IVF services, the Expert Committee constituted three thematic groups, each assigned specific areas for detailed study and recommendations," the statement said.
The three ethical groups will examine issues relating to informed consent, reproductive autonomy, privacy and confidentiality, donor management, embryo-related matters, prevention of exploitation, and other ethical concerns pertaining to the protection of women's reproductive rights, it said.
The legislative and regulatory group will review the existing legal and regulatory framework governing ART and IVF services, assess implementation mechanisms, identify regulatory and enforcement gaps, and recommend appropriate legal, institutional and policy reforms, the statement said.
"The Medical and Preventive Group will examine clinical protocols, laboratory practices, patient safety measures, quality standards, record maintenance, biological traceability, preventive safeguards, and national and international best practices relating to ART and IVF services," the statement added.
The meeting was attended by the members of the expert committee, namely Justice (retd) Asha Menon, chairperson of the committee; Sundari Nanda, former IPS officer; Archana Majumdar, ex-NCW member; and Shipra Dhar, member of advisory committee of NCW.
The meeting was also attended by Mahalakshmi Pavani, senior Supreme Court advocate; Dr Sarvesh Tandon, professor & HOD, Department of Forensic Medicine, Safdarjung Hospital; Dr Neeta Singh, gynaecologist, AIIMS, New Delhi; Dr Nayana Sahasrabudhe, social worker; Dr Rajnikant Contractor, gynaecologist, Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India; and Kanchan Khattar, member-convener of the committee, reports PTI.
Besides, Richa Saxena, Scientist C, ART & Surrogacy Division, Department of Health Research (DHR), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, was also present in the meeting representing the ministry.
The NCW said the meeting brought together experts from the judiciary, medicine, law, public administration and the social sector, who shared suggestions on the evolving challenges in the ART and IVF ecosystem and deliberated on the need for a balanced, rights-based and accountable regulatory framework.
