- The final report on assisted reproductive technology in Queensland has been handed down by the Office of the Health Ombudsman
- The Report makes several recommendations to help safeguard Queenslanders accessing reproductive technologies
- The Miles Government recently introduced the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill to provide a robust framework to regulate ART providers and services in Queensland.
The Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO) has concluded their investigation into assisted reproductive technology (ART) providers within Queensland, which makes several recommendations to improve the quality and safety of reproductive services in Queensland.
The Report, which was directed by the Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women, Shannon Fentiman, highlights several systemic issues and makes a series of recommendations.
The Report's recommendations include actions to improve ART practices and procedures, ensuring better safeguards for consumers, donors, and donor-conceived children.
It is based on records from consumer complaints to OHO and ART providers, adverse events, audits and interviews.
In June, the Miles Government introduced a new Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill to provide a robust framework to regulate ART providers and services in Queensland which will include a $5.9 million donor conception information register, giving donor-conceived people access to information about their genetic origins.
The final Report also categorised the percentage of complaints reviewed against the key themes identified.
The area that received the most complaints related to the collection, storage, identification, and distribution of gametes and embryos, with 28% of OHO issues and 40% of ART provider complaints related to this theme.
The area to receive the second highest volume of complaints relate to the provision of information and informed consent, which represented 28% of OHO issues and 20% of ART provider complaints.
The third area which received the most complaints related to the screening of gamates and donors with 16% of OHO issues, and 13% of ART provider complaints.
The fourth and fifth highest volume complaints areas related to record keeping and provision of information with 15% of OHO issues and 3% of ART provider complaints, and the discarding of gamates and embryos which accounted for 3% of OHO issues and 17% of ART provider complaints.
As stated by the Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman:
"This investigation provided a crucial opportunity to assess the standards of care in assisted reproductive sector in Queensland, which play an important role in helping families pursue their dreams of parenthood.
"The findings of this investigation underscore the need for robust legislative frameworks to oversee ART services and protect the interests of consumers and donor-conceived individuals.
"Our recently introduced Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill will help safeguard Queensland families by establishing a donor registry, ensuring people have access to sufficient information and counselling services, and providing more powers to Queensland Health to oversee providers.
"I would like to acknowledge the courage of the people who shared their personal experiences as part of this Report, and those that have reached out to me directly who have advocated for change."
