SA to allow LGBTI couples to access ART and surrogacy, but not singles
Wednesday, March 08, 2017
Last week laws passed in the South Australian Parliament to allow for the first time LGBTI couples to access assisted reproductive treatment, including IVF, and surrogacy.
However, the laws do not allow singles to access IVF unless they have a medical need (so this excludes single men), and do not allow singles to access surrogacy- unlike singles living in Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria.
On the face of it, if doctors attempt to provide treatment to singles for surrogacy, they could face a large fine and the loss of their licence- but they may have to, to comply with the federal Sex Discrimination Act.
The new laws will allow doctors to decline to provide treatment based on their conscience- but doctors will have to say so on a public register- and refer the patient to someone who will treat.
The laws commence on a date to be fixed.
