Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords]

I am sure that there is a role for cord blood banks. In this particular case, however, David's is one of the six families who have been licensed for the saviour sibling technique precisely on the grounds that there is no alternative treatment. Were David to have a sibling-saviour transplant, there would be a 95 per cent. chance of success in the short term. He would spend just three weeks in hospital and live the rest of his life as normal. Conditions such as fanconi anaemia are very rare, and that may be why only six families are licensed for the treatment at present. David's father has explained why his family have embarked on the process:"““We would like to save his life. We would also like to have an unaffected child that will outlive us and that can give us hope in our lives…For most people who choose to have an opinion, this Bill will fortunately never affect them. This Bill is for families like us…Other families worry about what choice of secondary school they will send their child to, we worry about whether our child will be alive next year. Our son already asks about bone marrow, transplantation, and death…we are waiting with trepidation for the day he asks us to explain his condition.””"