Grow your own tabs
Cambridge University last week became involved in the debate surrounding the donation of eggs for fertility treatment. Students and graduates of the university reacted angrily to the claim that they were being targeted by childless couples seeking 'clever' genes for their babies. The concerns were prompted by an advertisement placed in the June issue of the university's alumni magazine, Cam.
The advert, which the patient placed without consulting her doctor at the London Fertility Clinic, read: "Are you a woman of 35 or under and would you consider donating an egg? I am a cancer survivor. I received chemotherapy for which I am without doubt extremely grateful. Unfortunately it has left me sterile. We already have one wonderful child and would love to have another. If you would like to help please call..."
The editor of Cam, Peter Richards, admitted that he and the other members of the board of the magazine were 'uneasy' at the time about the inclusion of the article and have since made a policy decision not to include any more adverts of the same nature. Although as editor he was not responsible for advertising included in the publication, his principal worry was that the appeal might be something other than "a bona fide, personal cri de coeur in which there was no question of money changing hands."
However it has since been revealed that his fears were unfounded. The appeal was genuine and the couple who placed the quarter-page advert are both Oxbridge graduates, making the suggestion that they were hoping to ensure themselves an academically-gifted baby seem unlikely.
Peter Richards pointed out that he received only one letter expressing concern at the advert out of a readership of 140,000. He also emphasised that the main function of an alumni magazine was to,"cultivate an extended family of university graduates," and for this reason the Cam was the obvious place for the couple's appeal.
28th Oct 1999