24/04/2004
08:02 - (SA) Elsabé Brits
News 24.com
Cape
Town - An agency that advertised egg-cell safaris to
Cape Town on its website has "been frozen".
The
website, which advertised beautiful young women who
were willing to donate egg cells to infertile United
States couples, was also closed down.
No
medical procedures will take place under their
banner in future, as "elements of their business
were illegal".
The
agency was also encouraged to study South African
laws before attempting to harvest genetic material.
Although the site was still accessible on Friday
morning, by the afternoon it appeared to be
inactive.
This
quick reaction comes three days after Die Burger
revealed the activities of Santa Barbara-based Renew
Body and Soul agency that organised "egg safaris" to
Cape Town.
Dr
David Bass, legal adviser to the department of
health, said the reaction came as a direct result of
Die Burger's revelations.
Would follow up the e-mail with a phonecall
Bass
informed agency founder and director Robin Newman by
e-mail that no more procedures organised by her
California agency would be allowed in South Africa.
This
included the donation and implantation of egg cells.
Bass
said he would follow up the e-mail with a phone call
to ask Newman to remove information about illegal
procedures from the website, even although South
Africa didn't have the power to close down the site.
Bass
said: "Renew must study South African law before
approaching the country again".
"We
have provided them with a framework about what is
legal and what is not. What they are doing at
present is unacceptable."
The
department also spoke to two local doctors, Paul le
Roux and Klaus Wiswedel of the Cape Town Fertility
Clinic, who had performed the medical procedures.
Both
undertook not to take on any more patients or
donors.
The
advertisement that invited donors, stated that women
could "earn R13 000 by helping American couples".
Bass
said: "The word 'earn' does not imply a donation. It
is payment for the donation of human tissue and it
is illegal. It is also 'enticement'."
Photographs of donors may not be published, as they
must remain anonymous.
He was
astounded at how many women (50) had been willing to
place their photographs and personal information on
a website.
Welcomed the department's reaction
The SA
Medical Association said on Friday it would warn its
members against such practices.
The
organisation said although it did not have the power
to discipline its members, it would inform them
about the law and the consequences of breaking it.
Dr
Paul Dalmeyer, chairperson of the SA Association for
Reproductive Sciences and Surgery, welcomed the
department's reaction and said the website was
horrible.
Newman
did not react to e-mails or phone calls on Friday.
