Why is there an act for assisted human reproduction (AHR)?
In 1978, the birth of the world’s first baby born through in vitro fertilization-a process through which a woman’s egg is fertilized outside her body-set in motion a series of deliberations on assisted human reproduction (AHR). While the technique offered hope to couples and individuals having difficulties building a family, it also gave rise to profound and sometimes heated debate as to the ethical, legal, philosophical, theological and scientific implications of both the technology itself and future research in this emerging field. In response to the encouragement of women’s groups, parliamentarians and many other interested parties, in 1989 the Government of Canada appointed a Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies to “inquire into and report upon current and potential medical and scientific developments related to new reproductive technologies, considering in particular their social, ethical, health, research, legal and economic implications and the public interest, reco
