Deafness may be struck from embryo bill

LONDON, April 13 (UPI) -- Deafness may soon not fall into the category of serious medical conditions when it comes to embryo-screening procedures in Britain.

The Sunday Telegraph said after a surge of campaigning by deaf activists, Britain's Department of Health is removing all references in a proposed human fertilization and embryology bill to deafness as serious medical condition.

The department's move could mean the House of Commons may adapt the new stance when amending the bill, which could mean deaf parents could chose to have a deaf child through an embryo screening.

Professor Peter Braude of Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital has expressed concern that such practices bring about certain ethical considerations.

"I have serious concerns about deliberately selecting an embryo for deafness. This is the same as taking a normal child and deliberately making it deaf so that it can fit in with a community," the pre-implantation genetic diagnosis official told the Telegraph.

"I don't see how that can be acceptable."