Keywords:
Current state of legislation - common law status of human embryo; maternity and paternity; ownership and control of reproductive tissues; legislation regulating IVF Victoria and South Australia The IVF debate - concerns raised; major objections (status of human embryo, costs of treatment, other implications, debate on embryo research Underlying principles - paramount welfare of the child and the formation of families; personal freedom and individual autonomy NSW Model for regulation - Biomedical Council; practice licences; research licences Recommendations - Biomedical Council; practice (regulation not prohibition, licensing system, medical practitioners only, clinics to be licensed, admission to program, consent to treatment, medical misconduct, counselling of patients; no special legal liability); research on human embryo; storage and disposal of embryo; record keeping and access to information; parentage (maternity, posthumous conception, registration of birth) Minority opinion of embryo research Select bibliography Flow chart of Biomedical Council and the licensing system