An aids charity championed by Princess Diana is calling for an end to a “cruel” law that stops many people with HIV from getting fertility treatment.
The legislation bans more than 105,000 people living with the virus from donating eggs or sperm, despite scientific studies showing there is no transmission risk.
Mixed-sex couples are allowed treatment like IVF if one or both partners has the virus as they are viewed as consenting adults in a relationship.
But people with HIV cannot be donors to help others such as friends or family members get pregnant.
The law also hits LGBTQ+ people with the virus who have to donate to conceive a biological child.
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The National AIDS Trust is now launching a campaign – and petition – to scrap the rule.
Trust chief Deborah Gold said: “It’s cruel and homophobic. It prevents so many people living with HIV from having a family with the help of fertility treatment. There is no place for stigma and outdated science in our laws.
“In the 90s, our patron Princess Diana crossed needless barriers that many with HIV were forced behind.
“We must continue to break down the legacy of fear around HIV.”
Around 97% of people diagnosed with HIV in the UK are on effective treatment and have such low levels of the virus, they cannot pass it on.
Dr Tristan Barber, consultant in HIV medicine at London’s Royal Free Hospital said: “Fertility treatment is completely safe for people living with HIV. There is no medical reason for this discriminatory law to exist.
“National AIDS Trust’s challenge is crucial to bring justice to people who simply want to start a family.”
The charity is calling for the law to be overturned on the basis that it’s discriminatory to people with HIV – which is classed as a disability under the Equality Act.
This Morning’s Dr Ranj Singh, who backs the campaign, said: “There have been enormous advances in HIV medicine so this law should be changed.”
Dr Nicola Mackie, a HIV and sexual health consultant at
Imperial College NHS Trust, said the ban was a “clear example of the law lagging behind science and causing unnecessary heartache”. A Department of Health spokesman said: “At this time, the Advisory Com-mittee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues
and Organs who advise the Government do not support a change to legislation.”
'Cancer ruined baby hope'
Julie, 35, is living with HIV and having cancer treatment that doctors say will affect her fertility.
Her sister offered to be her surrogate but has been barred from doing so – even though doctors have confirmed she and the baby would not be at risk of catching HIV.
Londoner Julie – not her real name – said: “Knowing I will not be able to have children, even though doctors say it would have been safe, is something I don’t think I will ever understand.
“It has made my cancer treatment so much harder.”
'It's like stigma of dark days'
Breakout lawyer Noel Watson-Doig longs to be a dad, but was left shattered when he learned of the ban.
Noel, 44, has lived with HIV since he was 25 and is currently single.
He said: “I was in shock. The law practically forces infertility onto LGBTQ+ people living with HIV. Why can’t we have our own biological children when there’s no medical reason?
“This feels like the same sort of stigma from the dark days of living with HIV.” Noel’s local MP contacted the Department of Health and Social
Care on his behalf, only to get the same response.
Now Noel, from South London, is backing the National AIDS Trust’s campaign. He said: “If I had another less emotive condition instead of HIV, I don’t think I’d get treated this way.”
