Over four millions signatures have been collected and registered at the Court of Cassation, during only two months, for five referendum to abrogate the law n. 40/2004 on the assisted reproduction techniques. One referendum is for the total abrogation of the law and four referendum are for the partial abrogation. They refer to the law on the banning the testing of embryos for genetic disorders, the enforced implantation in women of all embryos created through IVF and the banning of access to IVF and other techniques for single women.

Arcidonna thinks that this rule is dangerous for women and humbling for doctors and men of science.
According to the rule:

• one embryo has its own juridical identity: it seems to be an attack against the self-determination of women and it brings up the law n. 194 on termination of pregnancy for discussion again;
• three embryos at most can be implanted and the others can’t be preserved. It exposes women’s health to a risk, because the success chances become very few and then women are forced to undergo very serious operations;
• grossly malformed embryos must be anyway implanted. This is a sign of unheard violence.
• This law unwarrantedly restricts scientific research for serious pathologies’ treatments and their circulation.

Arcidonna has contributed to collect the signatures.

10-7-2004