Anyone in VIC done the police check required to continue or commence IVF post-July?

[Bengal]

It makes one wonder if there is a secret political coalition, plotting against, the fertility challenged women of Australia, first the safety net issue, and now this.

Are they trying to make IVF only available to a certain "class" of society ?

I cannot see this as something the individual clinics would be bringing in, as this would be detrimental to their existance, someone, some where is getting the ball rolling on these issues.

Where do these ideas come from, to pass a bill (?) don't you have to have fair and reasonable objections to even get this granted.

[buliej]

Definitely not supported by the clinics & I think they fought it when it was introduced.

I spent a while on the phone yesterday with the woman at Monash IVF who is in charge of this issue. They do not support this at all (they certainly don't need the headache, don't want the obligation, and don't want patients who are justifiably upset about having to go through this and possibly delay their cycle commencement...I do also think that they object on the same grounds that we all find this so problematic).

Keep in mind this was slipped (I am choosing the word slipped - I don't know who actually introduced this aspect and the negotiations surrounding it...in the US we have Congressional records which would have this info - do you have this here?) into the most recent Reproductive Act passed in Victoria (I can't remember the full name). From what I've read (and I've only read about it since learning of this check), the act actually contained a lot of good provisions (some helping gay couples and a few others that people were probably looking for for some time) - but some politician who obviously has "issues" with IVF seems to have been able to negotiate in this horrendous provision - and when the whole Act passed, this provision was passed too. I guess some people would argue that the overall benefits of the Act outweigh the negatives. I don't agree with this argument - there is no good reason for including such a discriminatory and outrageous provision.

[melbel]

Had a good chat with my Specialist at MIVF about this today and apparently it was a certain attorney general called Rob Hulls who was the one who pushed for this provision and his suggestion was that if you are wanting to voice your opinion to maybe direct it to him as he was the one who dug his heels in over this issue.....I am sure someone will be able to find his email addy for us!

[sammiejam]

Does the legislation extend to people who want to donate eggs and sperm? Surrogate mothers?

Or is it just the poor saps who actually suffer infertility?

OMG. I am just so bloody disgusted with this...

[melbel]

everyone Sammiejam.......

[buliej]

Really - everyone? Donors won't have "contact with children" - at least not until they are 18 unless it's an atypical arrangement - are they afraid eggs/sperm can carry chromosomes for "bad acts".

the more I learn about this, the more my stomach turns.

[sammiejam]

Buliej, that is exactly what I was thinking about when I asked that! WTF??? The donors would have no contact with the resulting child, why the HELL do they need to undergo checks? I wonder how this will impact on the variety, availability and price of donor eggs/sperm.

I dont have a criminal history but my DH does. Youthful indiscretions. If we were in VIC would I have to find someone else to have a baby with? So I would be punished for something I did not do. Any which way I look at this I see VIOLATION OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. But then again, I am biased.

[dusty]

As I understand it, it applies to anyone having an embryo transfer so donors are not included - phew!
As Julie said it was slipped in as a sweetner for the conservatives who were not comfortable bringing Victoria in line with other States/Territories and countries to allow gay/lesbian/single women access to IVF and surrogacy. All IVF clinics and ACCESS opposed it but it was passed through the upper house in Vic.

I agree SJ that it would be great to have someone challenge the law as discriminatory. As LTers have probably all experienced it is hard to fight a bigger fight like this and the threat to the Medicare Safety Net for IVF when you yourself are trying to barely cope with AC and infertility. I will support and cheer on anyone that is willing to take on Hull and his cronies!

[Meo]

I think pollies are still old school about contact because it deters the masses from actually getting up and doing something about an issue. Rob hull's DoJ website only has a mailing address:
121 Exhibition St
Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: 03 8684 0000

Digging a bit deeper, I found a few more contact details: I suspect the first one might get Mr Hull's attention

Crown Counsel - Department of Justice
25/121 Exhibition St
Melbourne VIC 3000
Email: CrownCounsel@justice.vic.gov.au

Victorian Parliament Law Reform Committee
Parliament House
Spring St
East Melbourne VIC 3002
Tel: 03 8682 2851
Email: vplrc@parliament.vic.gov.au

[buliej]

I have to psych myself up for another letter campaign (I used my reserves with the safety net issue). I feel bad because I think this is something so worth writing a letter - but I'm just so tired from all I've been through of late.

I did mail off the request for the reports - it is suppose to take 2 full work weeks. I be back here to report on turn around time.

[chelle06]

Hi all,

I too am really peeved about this. I have emailed my local member and cc'd Mr Hulls into this a week ago and have heard nothing.... I should point out this was in response to a call I made where I was told this was legislation now and I should deal with it....

I was also advised they can do this because the state supports IVF.... yet to find out how. Last time I checked medicare was federal... having said that we soon may not have that either.

Email and make noise girls. We should not be penalized further.

I wonder if they will impose a safe sex policy for those that are blessed with the ability to do this without ART.....

Sorry I am all over the place. New to this and really really mad

Chelle
2 cycles
2 BFN
0 Frosties

[Bridget]

I got up in arms about this last year before the legislation was introduced and went on a one woman emailing campaign. I emailed at least 10 people in government and didn't get so much as one courtesy reply. The problem is that I supported the rest of the legislation (the right to access to IVF for same sex couples). I think a lot of people thought if you have to take a little bad to get a big good then so be it. I think it is outrageous. My mum worked in child protection her whole working life and she lol when I told her about this. She thought it was a joke.

[buliej]

Although I strongly oppose this in concept, I went ahead and ordered reports for DH & myself. They took 5 days! I couldn't believe it - I put the requests in the mail last weekend, and Friday had the reports in hand. At least they were prompt.

At this point, I feel like the government is actually against our ivf journey - between the safety net issue and all these hurdles - it seems like they really don't want people who need AC to bother...but DH & I will keep plodding along...

[Bengal]

Although I strongly oppose this in concept, I went ahead and ordered reports for DH & myself. They took 5 days! I couldn't believe it - I put the requests in the mail last weekend, and Friday had the reports in hand. At least they were prompt.

At this point, I feel like the government is actually against our ivf journey - between the safety net issue and all these hurdles - it seems like they really don't want people who need AC to bother...but DH & I will keep plodding along...

Oh Bullie, that's all we can do hun, isn't it, jump through their hoops, and plod along.

I better pick up some forms, they need to be from Jan 09 onwards.

[turner]

This is ABSOLUTELY ridiculous. Do the legislators think IF is a way of weeding out the 'bad parents'? That nature has stepped in and said 'hey you better watch this one, she'll be sure to do something nasty''! It just feels like you have to prove you are not a criminal, rather than it being assumed that everything is OK. Will I have to also wear a big IF sign on my shirt so that members of the community know 'I'm one of those IF women', as well?

I agree with BulieJ earlier on in this thread, will every pg couple also have to prove they have what it takes to be a good parent? It just makes it also demeaning.

Let's be honest about this - I have strived to be a parent. I am working so hard at something that comes so naturally to the general community. By our very actions, a child that we have will be the most precious person in the world. He/she is so wanted that DH and I will be the most protective and adoring parents.

My sister is a nurse and meets so many different kind of women in her work in maternity. Sometimes she'll just say, 'we had another bad case today.. and I again thought, my sister is struggling. It's just so unfair". Well here is another stupid thing that swings against us. It is just appalling.

[~shazz~]

Holy cow i'm so sorry for everyone that is subjected to such rot it is like the think IVF is such an easy journey to take then they add extra unwarranted stress it is just not fair.
so is this just a Victorian thing or is it Austalia wide?

[butterfly_warrior]

Just Victoria so far, Shazz.

[~shazz~]

thats digusting why just discriminate against victorian couple you'd think that if they are going to bring in such a ridiculous law then it would be across the board it just sounds so sus (sp) again ladies & DH's i'm so sorry if there are letters to be written count me in