Assisted reproduction technologies The health of children conceived by assisted reproduction technologies

The provision of assisted reproduction technologies needs to operate within a defined ethical framework that safeguards the welfare of all concerned A ssisted reproduction technologies (ART) account for the conception of around 1 % of children born in the UK each year (over 10 000 chil-dren).1 2 The primary purpose of ART is the treatment of infertility and the con-ception and safe delivery of healthy children with the potential to become healthy adults, but some techniques permit embryo selection and testing.3 4 As the range, application and success rates (live births per treatment cycle) of ART have increased, so their conse-quences for the children produced have become more apparent. Since paediatri-cians have moral obligations to maximise children’s welfare and to act as their advocates,5 they may have reasonable concerns about the health and welfare of the increasing number of children conceived by ART