IVF clinics could be importing embryos from overseas

Indian authorities are investigating a possible embryo smuggling and surrogacy racket after nabbing a Malaysian courier at Mumbai airport earlier this month.

The alleged smuggler told police that he had transported embryos from Malaysia – where surrogacy is illegal – to the Indo Nippon IVF Clinic, run by Dr Goral Gandhi, an embryologist whose website describes her as “the best embryologist in India”.

The clinic has denied involvement in the racket and says that rival clinics may have conspired to set Dr Gandhi up.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) which is investigating the case suspects that other clinics may be importing embryos as well – which is illegal without a permit from the Indian Council of Medical Research. Presumably the embryos would be implanted in surrogate mothers engaged by the clinics.

Michael Cook is editor of BioEdge

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Michael Cook

Michael Cook edits BioEdge, a bioethics newsletter, and MercatorNet, an on-line magazine whose focus is human dignity. He writes from Sydney, Australia.

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