Gay couples refused access to IVF in NT
GAY couples in the Northern Territory have been refused access to IVF because of their sexuality.
Advocacy group Rainbow Territory said a number of couples were refused access to the service last year, according to .
The group is calling for anti-discrimination laws to be extended to provide further protections to the LGBTI community.
Rainbow Territory spokesperson Jane Black said couples had been denied access to IVF because they were not 鈥渕edically infertile鈥 and were unwilling to claim to be.
鈥淸A couple] ended up going interstate,鈥 she said.
鈥淲e had another response from a family member of a person who wanted access to the service who said their family member ended up leaving the Territory altogether because they couldn鈥檛 access it.鈥
Repromed, the only IVF clinic in the Territory, said there was no legislation around the service and a result they were bound by South Australian law.
鈥淲e treat a lot of same-sex couples already,鈥 said general manager Hamish Hamilton.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just that many of them do have an infertility status diagnosed.鈥
Hamilton said Repromed would welcome legal changes that would cover assisted reproductive technologies.
Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Sally Sievers said fertility services were not included in services covered by the Anti-Discrimination Act.
鈥淭he discrimination is actually enshrined in the Act because fertility services are exempt,鈥 she said.
Sievers said a discussion paper was being drafted and would be open to public consultation before legislation is drafted.
I’m not a doctor but I don’t get why anyone needs IVF if they’re not medically infertile. IVF is very expensive and like any surgery presents medical risks, a turkey baster is incredibly cheap by comparison. It’s not like straight couples getting pregnant the old fashioned way are sterilizing any penises before they enter vaginas, what’s wrong with a low-tech cheap solution? If there’s a medical problem with my logic, please let me know, I’m always willing to be educated.