IVF bill divides senators

Senators spent 11 hours debating a bill on IVF on Wednesday, in what has proved one of the most divisive issues in current Polish politics.

The bill, which was passed in the lower house of parliament in late June and regulates state funding for couples seeking the treatment, has been flatly opposed by chief opposition party Law and Justice.

During Wednesday’s session at the Senate, representatives of various parties called for amendments to the bill, while others said that as Roman Catholics the prospective law is wholly unacceptable.

Law and Justice senator Dorota Czudowska claimed that “we are opening the gates of hell wity this act”.

Several senators, including those from the ruling Civic Platform/Polish People’s Party coalition, suggested an amendment that would only allow the treatment for married couples.

However, Józef Pinior of Civic Platform argued that “this law does not force anyone to use this method,” and that is is concerned with “freedom of choice.”

He said that the debate had often been carried out as if all fellow countrymen had one worldview and that all were practising Roman Catholics. He noted that the Roman Catholic Church also rejects divorce, and yet that it is still sanctioned by law.

The debate finally closed at 1:00 am on Thursday. Proposed amendments have been sent to the Senate’s health committee, which will review the bill on Thursday afternoon.

Although the bill was only passed in parliament last month, a pilot IVF programme was introduced in July 2013. This was done via a loophole in the law by which IVF was classified as an ordinary medical procedure such as a tonsillectomy. Over 2000 babies have been born as a result of the programme so far.