Sperm ships for fertility seekers
British people may soon be able to board ships anchored off the coast to obtain fertility treatment forbidden in the UK, such as anonymous donor sperm. Some fear the removal of anonymity from sperm donors in April will exacerbate the shortage of donors, affecting infertile couples.
Ole Schou from the international sperm bank company Cryos, based in Denmark, is consultant to the ship scheme.
Ships would be governed by the laws of the country whose flag they flew
He envisages that the ships would be equipped with operating theatres and clinics which could be staffed with UK doctors.
Mr Schou, who is advising business planners outlining the cost of such enterprises, believes there could be a market for hundreds of ships in Europe, and all would be completely legal.
As the fertility ships would be governed by the laws of their own country, people from many different countries would be able to sidestep their own nation's fertility laws.
In Denmark for example, it is illegal for fertility doctors to assist lesbians and single people in their quest for a baby.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4251634.stm
