DNA profiling helps check unethical practices in fertility cases

DNA profiling, a legally accepted and affordable test, would be the best possible solution for parents to check unethical practices in Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) like In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), said Truth Labs founder-chairman Gandhi P.C. Kaza on Tuesday.

In the backdrop of the recent criminal cases involving some doctors and clinics allegedly indulging in switching of sperm donor samples and the trafficking of newborn babies disguising surrogacy, couples aspiring to be parents plunged into confusion. In the current scenario of suspicions clouding the ARTs, DNA fingerprinting would be of immense help in establishing biological parenthood with 99% accuracy, he said at a press conference at Truth Labs.

Taking advantage of the high incidence of infertility, some private clinics were taking the couples for a ride and the recent frauds unearthed by police were classic examples. If the couples get their respective DNA fingerprinting done, they can ascertain if the private clinics were serving them genuinely or playing them by providing babies born to some other woman like in the Srushti clinic case.

Prasad Hospitals Director Suma Prasad said over 80% of the ARTs were being used by private hospitals. These private clinics or hospitals have to follow due procedures like getting registered with the National ART Registry. The District Medical and Health Office concerned should conduct audit of the IVR and other fertility-related cases treated by private clinics.

The rules included compulsory acceptance of the procedure by both the wife and the husband. Even the consent forms and guidelines were designed by the Indian Council of Medical Research. As of now there is no agency or body that would guide prospective parents to choose a specific private clinic to go for IVF or other procedures to handle fertility issues, she said.

Doctor and fertility specialist Lakshmi Chirumamilla said couples should consider factors like what methods the private clinics were adopting as part of ARTs. The success ratio varied with the age group of the couples as well. Dr. Gandhi said that Truth Labs and Genome Foundation collaborated to assist the couples planning for babies through ARTs by providing free ‘consultation and counselling’ on the precautions to be taken. While Truth Labs would handle issues relating to forensics in this matter, the Genome Foundation would conduct Short Tandem Repeat (STR) profiling to provide solutions for persons with rare diseases.