title: Decision-making authority of patients and fertility specialists in Belgian law.
abstract: Belgium has finally introduced a law covering medically assisted reproduction and the disposition of supernumerary embryos and gametes, one of the last countries in Europe to do so. It is a liberal law, which gives extended decision-making authority to both patients and physicians. Importantly, access to treatment is given to all types of patients, with the exception of women over 47 years. All standard types of treatment are allowed. Simultaneously, fertility specialists and clinics have the right to refuse treatment to patients when they have a conscientious objection. Apart from the disposition of gametes and embryos, the law also permits the use of gametes and embryos post-mortem if there is written consent by the partners. Finally, the application of preimplantation genetic diagnosis for human leukocyte antigen typing is regulated.
authors.affiliation: Bioethics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, Department of Philosophy and Moral Science, Blandijnberg, 2B-9000 Gent, Belgium. Guido.Pennings@UGent.be
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pennings
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D018456:Reproductive Medicine / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*