U-turn by Health Board

After showing that Scotland is in the lead as an environmentalist country, they again demonstrated that they can set an example in other areas of life as well. This week in Glasgow a lesbian couple was offered help to concieve a baby after seeking damages at the court of Edinburgh. The initial rulig was that the couple was ineligible for NHS-funded fertility treantment, but an unprecedented U-turn by the health board changed their luck.

Their case lasted two years, starting in January 2007. Originally they were told their only chance would be expensive private treatment. Although the Board claimed they were not rejected on grounds of sexual orientation, the couple appealed at a court of law citing sexual discrimination as the cause.

NHS’ position in the beginning was straightforward. Although “treatment acceptance criteria" had been applied to the couple as they would have been to any other, “the board , initially took the view that the couple did not meet the necessary criteria to receive NHS-funded treatment.”

The rules, however, the couple claimed, made no reference to any requirements that only an opposite sex couple can get treatment. This, combined with the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Act 2008 and Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) regulations 2007, led to a strong case, and an eventual turnaround.

The couple now is eligible, and will recieve funded treatment to help them become parents.

Scotland again displayed the ability to overcome blinded bias, and set the path for other countries to follow in matters of equality.

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.2492186.0.0.php