home.eircom.net/content/un...nal/3946475

A COUPLE fighting to save the life of their desperately sick son have been given permission to begin controversial embryo screening treatment.


Joshua Fletcher (2) from Moira, Co Down, has a potentially fatal blood disorder called diamond blackfan anaemia (DBA) that can only be treated using stem cells to stimulate his body to produce healthy red blood cells.

But neither Joshua's parents, Joe and Julie Fletcher, nor his brother, Adam (5), are close enough matches to donate the stem cells that he needs.

Now the Fletchers hope in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment can be used to 'create' a baby brother or sister who will be a close genetic match for Joshua and can donate the stem cells that he so desperately needs,

Yesterday Britain's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) gave the family the go-ahead following a relaxation of rules last July on embryo selection to help sick siblings.

Doctors at London's Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre will now begin testing embryos to find the perfect tissue match for Joshua.

The most compatible embryo will be implanted in Julie's womb and stem cells will be extracted from the baby. They will be given to Joshua in a blood transfusion to trigger his body to produce the red blood cells that he needs.

"This is what we have been waiting for," Julie Fletcher said last night.

"It means that we can go ahead with treatment and get a cure for our son." Treatment is expected to take place by the end of the month.

The HFEA said subsequent cases would be judged on individual merit and the decision was not opening the flood gates for 'designer babies'.