More couples to gain access to fertility treatment at the MUHC.(NEWS

When it comes to merging technology with cultural and religious standards, couples attending the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) will have one less thing weighing on their minds.

"We have the technology to help most couples conceive, but to make this technology accessible to all culture, we must deliver it within the context of their traditions and values," says Hananel Holzer, a fertility expert at the MUHC.

"Many cultural or religious groups allow couples to use In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) if certain conditions are respected and followed. It is our job to make that happen.

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For example, some Muslim patients require that only female doctors perform the IVF procedure.

"We have also been asked to say prayers at the moment of fertilization, which we are happy to do," Holzer adds.

The McGill Reproductive Centre is also working closely with the Jewish Community Council of Montreal to develop the Observation Program to allow members of the Jewish community access to state-of-the-art fertility treatments without compromising their religious and cultural standards.

"In Judaism, the Halacha requires that certain conditions are met with respect to many aspects of life," says Holzer.

"Special observers were trained to understand religious laws as they relate to assisted reproduction ... Special freezing tanks for the eggs and incubators to house the embryos were also purchased by the Jewish community."

Holzer's work has been praised by the McGill Reproductive Centre's director, Dean Lin Tan, who opines that "this program is a wonderful example of collaboration between the MUHC and our community for the benefit of patients. By respecting religious laws and adapting to cultural sensitivities we have allowed more people to experience the joys of parenthood."

McGill University Health Centre

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