OPINION POLL INDICATES ITALIANS' SKEPTICISM OVER ASSISTED FERTILITY
Bill on assisted fertility leads to harsh disagreements in Parliament
A recent poll shows that a great majority of Italians strongly opposes assisted fertility techniques.
Two out of ten Italians declared themselves in favour of extending assisted fertility to unmarried couples while one in four is prone to accepting the legalization of third-party sperm or egg donations for sterile couples.
The assisted fertility bill is one of the big social issues facing Parliament. Early last week the Senate changed the version of the bill approved by the Lower House allowing third party egg and sperm donations.
The centre-left coalition had introduced the bill with a view to regulating an issue that had hitherto gone unregulated often leading to ethically unacceptable practices. This bill allowed for unmarried couples to recur to assisted fertility techniques. Conservatives and Catholics however allied to put severe restrictions.
The center-left protested that such restrictions would bring Italy back to the "Dark Ages".
The opinion poll, however, based on a sample of 600 people over the age of 18, shows that a strong majority of Italians still foster doubts and reservations on assisted fertility techniques. 57% had deep reservations about the bill at issue and 19% said they disagreed with the legislation.
Center-right leader Berlusconi asked that the Lower House reverse the changes made by the Senate.
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