Aussies should have the right to ‘choose the sex' of their baby, IVF doctor says
An in vitro fertilisation doctor has argued Aussies should have the right to choose the sex of their child.
According to IVF specialist Daniel Potter, it was infantilising for medical professionals to not disclose embryo-related information, and the government should not be involved in such a personal decision.
'I don't really see what the harm is, and people that are obviously highly motivated to be parents, you know, pursuing what they see as life, liberty and happiness ... their version of happiness, not the government's version,' he said.
Currently, sex selective IVF is banned in Australia on ethical grounds.
The procedure is only allowed on medical grounds such as genetic disorders associated with gender.
It is estimated that hundreds of Australians travel overseas each year to gain access to the procedure, which is becoming increasingly more socially acceptable in Australia.
'I respect everybody's opinion, and I think that just because you disagree with something, doesn't mean other people shouldn't be able to do it,' Potter, who appeared on Sunrise on Thursday, said.
'I think it's almost treating them like children .... (to say) we have this information, but we are not going to disclose it to you, because we are concerned you will use this information to make a choice that we might not agree with.
'What right do they have to tell you what to do with your life?'
The demand for the service has doubled, according to Sunrise.
'The conversation here in Australia, I think, it's ripe to happen,' Potter said.
'I don't know, ask yourselves why, if someone here in Australia does in vitro fertilisation, they know the gender of the embryos, but they won't disclose it to them, and this is information that may or may not be important to that person or that couple.
'But it seems to me that it should be their information to make decisions about their life and what they feel makes them happy.'
'Mix of opinions'
Influencer Caitlin Bailey has sparked debate after travelling to the United States to access sex selective IVF.
She spent $45,000 on the procedure, which allowed her to conceive a girl.
The Melbourne-based single mother, due to give birth in August, already has two naturally conceived boys and a girl, aged between one and five.
'I have three children already. I have a girl and two boys. And I just had this longing and this desire to have another baby girl,' Bailey told Sunrise on Thursday.
'So, I looked into it, and I found a company called Gender Selection Australia and I went through them, and they linked me in with Dr Potter, and it kind of all went from there.'
Bailey said she has received a mix of feedback.
'To be honest, I have had overwhelmingly had positive feedback, but of course no two people are the same.
'Everyone is unique. Always no matter what you do is there will be positives and negatives and people who do and don't agree.
'There have been people who voiced their concerns, or they might not agree, but I just usually say that's my choice and my life and what you do in your life, as long as you are not hurting anyone, then you do you.'
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Mr Griffiths said the money raised goes some way to allowing him to support his beloved daughter whom he affectionately calls Nell. Brendan Griffiths has been living a nightmare as his 10-year-old daughter Nellie recovers from a traumatic horse-riding accident. "The horse got spooked and she fell off," he told ACM, the publisher of this masthead, in a matter-of-fact way that belies his own trauma from the incident. Nellie suffered a litany of injuries, including four fractured ribs, a fractured collarbone and spine and brain swelling. Mr Griffiths, from Portland in NSW's central west, has spent the last few weeks over 100km from home renting a unit opposite the Children's Hospital at Westmead in Sydney where his daughter is recovering. A steady stream of visitors, including his parents and two sisters, have camped there too. The good news is that Nellie has left the ICU. "The first thing she did was give me a kiss and a cuddle," he said. 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Tests show that most brands fall short "The fine line between income and out-of-pocket expenses is leaving patients and their families making impossible decisions; a choice between employment and treatment, or being with a loved one during sickness," she said. "This is particularly pertinent in Australia, with many having to relocate, or travel, to be closer to specialist care centres." Mr Griffiths said the money raised goes some way to allowing him to support his beloved daughter whom he affectionately calls Nell. Brendan Griffiths has been living a nightmare as his 10-year-old daughter Nellie recovers from a traumatic horse-riding accident. "The horse got spooked and she fell off," he told ACM, the publisher of this masthead, in a matter-of-fact way that belies his own trauma from the incident. Nellie suffered a litany of injuries, including four fractured ribs, a fractured collarbone and spine and brain swelling. Mr Griffiths, from Portland in NSW's central west, has spent the last few weeks over 100km from home renting a unit opposite the Children's Hospital at Westmead in Sydney where his daughter is recovering. A steady stream of visitors, including his parents and two sisters, have camped there too. The good news is that Nellie has left the ICU. "The first thing she did was give me a kiss and a cuddle," he said. But the hospital says it could be months before she is home in Coleambally in the Riverina, where she lives with her mum. "It's been very stressful," he said. "Sometimes she is good, other times cranky, and frustrated." Mr Griffiths, who works as a farmhand, has not been paid since the accident as he spends time supporting his daughter and her sister, Annalise, who lives with him. A GoFundMe raising money for the family's plight comes as new data from the crowdfunding platform revealed Aussies donated over $70 million to medical fundraisers, making it the largest category on GoFundMe in 2024. NSW accounted for the highest number of medical fundraisers in 2024 at 30 per cent, followed by Queensland and Victoria, accounting for 22 per cent each. GoFundMe's Nicola Britton said medical fundraisers were often launched to ask for help to cover the cost of travelling to a different city or interstate to receive treatment. READ MORE: How accurate are sunscreen SPF claims? Tests show that most brands fall short "The fine line between income and out-of-pocket expenses is leaving patients and their families making impossible decisions; a choice between employment and treatment, or being with a loved one during sickness," she said. "This is particularly pertinent in Australia, with many having to relocate, or travel, to be closer to specialist care centres." Mr Griffiths said the money raised goes some way to allowing him to support his beloved daughter whom he affectionately calls Nell.
