Pope attacks IVF treatments
The Pope has attacked the "arrogance" of IVF treatments, which he sees as being motivated by money and even the arrogance of trying to replace God.The Pope went on to state, "Indeed, the union of a man and a woman, in that community of love and life which is marriage, represents the only worthy 'place' for a new human to be called into existence."
However, the Pope and the Vatican have been supporters of IVF treatment for couples, but not at the exclusion or replacement of religious belief.
The Pope's comments are welcomed in the debate, particularly with regard to the profit motivation in private IVF treatment. The high cost of private IVF treatment means that it is beyond the financial reach of many. The fees charged by many private clinics are also way in excess of their costs.
Any private organisation has the right to run themselves as a commercial profit-making entity. However, the level of some charges are definitely excessive. There also appears to be little appetite for regulators across the world to regulate the charges made by private clinics.
Ultimately science will carry on developing more effective treatments - and this should be welcomed.
However, if the cost of treatment is lowered more people could benefit.