‘Even today, some have hang-ups’
THE leading fertility expert who performed the IVF procedure said that he was “disappointed but not surprised” the samesex couple were turned down by a number of other Scots clinics.
Dr Marco Gaudoin, medical director at GCRM, where the treatment took place, said surrogacy is a legal minefield.
“I believe this is the first time in Scotland we have had the combination of a Scots surrogate, frozen eggs from a Scots donor plus a Scots father, and it is twins,” he said.
“It was legally and medically challenging.
“We put in two eggs as a bit of a belt and braces operation and both started growing.
“I am disappointed that some clinics would turn down same-sex couples but it is not surprising that some still have prejudices.
“Even these days some people still have hangups about treating gay men but I am a libertarian and treat everyone as being the same.”
In recent years GCRM has hit the headlines for some trailblazing achievements.
In 2013 the centre produced the first baby born in Scotland using new EEVA (Early Embryo Viability Assessment) IVF technology.
And in October 2008, the clinic scored a world first when a baby boy was born as a direct result of the use of a new fertility drug Pergoveris.
Widely covered in the media, GCRM were the treatment providers in this landmark case.
Dr Gaudoin said superstar rocker Elton John and his husband David Furnish having children with a surrogate mother had helped more gay couples consider IVF and surrogacy as a way of having a family. “The profile that Elton John and his partner have given to this has been good for helping with the acceptability of ethical issues surrounding treating gay men.”