Milano, 10 Apr. (askanews) – “If I were Swedish today I could really hope for a cure”. Twenty years after its approval, law 40 on medically assisted procreation continues to provide for bans, including the one that prevents embryos that are not suitable for pregnancy from being used for researchnow cryopreserved without the possibility of scientific use. For the World Parkinson’s Day on April 11, Maurizio Fravili, a 68-year-old suffering from the disease, together with the Luca Coscioni Association, calls for the removal of the ban, underlining how in other countries, including Sweden, experiments with embryonic stem cells are already underway with results considered promising. In Italy, however, anyone undertaking similar research would risk up to six years in prison and a 150,000 euro fine.
World Parkinson’s Day, Maurizio’s appeal against the prohibitions of law 40
“Parkinson’s is a disease that slowly shuts down the body. It affects nerve cells and compromises autonomy, quality of life and freedom. Walking is increasingly difficult. There are days when everything becomes very tiring. I’m even afraid to hold my grandchildren in my arms. While I get worse, science around the world is making enormous progress. If my name was Mauritz and I was Swedish today I could really hope for a cure. But I am Italian and anyone who tries to cure me with those therapies would risk prison. What could become a cure is a crime in our country. It doesn’t seem right to me. We have to decide whether we want to be the country that defends bans or the one that defends people. This is why I invite you to join me in asking to cancel this absurd ban, and give hope of a cure to those who today have none.”
The Association Luca Coscioni has promoted a petition to ask Parliament to allow donation for research into unsuitable embryoswith the aim of overcoming the limitations of law 40/2004 and encouraging the development of new therapies.
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