MP proposes fertility preservation law

Proposal targets cancer patients undergoing fertility-impacting therapy

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A Member of Parliament has submitted a proposal allowing cancer patients and others undergoing fertility-affecting treatment to store reproductive cells for future use.

The draft amendment, put forward by MP Dr Maryam Al Dhaen, seeks to expand Bahrain’s Law No. 26 of 2017 on assisted reproductive technologies to include fertility preservation.

The proposal would permit licensed medical centres to freeze and store eggs, sperm and reproductive tissue for patients diagnosed with cancer or those undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery that could impact fertility.

Under the draft, patients would require medical certification confirming the risk of infertility and written consent. For minors, guardian approval would be mandatory, along with authorisation from the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.

Stored material could be preserved for up to 10 years, with the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) tasked with setting technical guidelines and regulating any extensions. The bill also stipulates that all stored material must be destroyed upon the patient’s death.

The amendment introduces penalties for violations, including up to three months in jail and fines ranging from BD3,000 to BD10,000.

The explanatory memorandum says the aim is to provide patients with a legal framework to preserve fertility before medical treatment causes irreversible damage, while ensuring compliance with medical, legal and religious standards.