Parents cleared to test embryos as life-saving transplant donors

The parents of a child battling a severe and life-limiting condition have gained committee approval to test their embryos to see if they could be the donor match needed to save their child.

The Ethics Committee on Associated Reproductive Technology has allowed the parents to test their embryos - formed after IVF treatment - to find out if one of them could make the right bone marrow donation.

Fertility Associates Chief Medical Officer Dr Andrew Murray says this isn't a common scenario in New Zealand, and these parents had intended to have another child already.

"I can't understand why it wouldn't be logical, if it was possible, to test the embryos to see if one of them is compatible to help basically provide the best possibility of the existing, very unwell child to have the best chance of survival."

LISTEN ABOVE