In a historic move, France has permitted single women and lesbians to have babies with medical help. France's lower house of parliament passed the bioethics bill on October 15, which will let lesbians and single women utilise fertility treatments such as in-vitro fertilization. The opponents, however, did not support the decision. 

The bill was passed in the lower house with the majority

The provision of medically assisted reproduction was only available for heterosexual couples. The critics, however, will take the bill forward and fight for its implementation as it moves to the Senate. The bill received a majority with 114 votes in favour out of 359 votes in the national assembly and 72 abstentions. This is considered as the first major social reform of Emmanuel Macron’s government. However, the bill needs approval from the upper house before it can be turned into law.

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Bioethics bill faces resistance 

Emmanuel Macron pledged to support the bill during his election campaign. The bill has suffered resistance from the opponents, Roman Catholics and conservative people of other religions. In the past, there have been mass demonstrations and protests against the bill. If the bill is passed it would bring the French legislation at power with the rest of the European nations including Britain, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and the Scandinavian nations, which already provide medical assistance to all women.

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The Bioethics bill 

According to the proposed bill, it consists of 2,500 amendments. It is proposed that the healthcare system will cover the overall cost of the procedure for the woman under the age of 43. The child of the lesbian couple will have the names of ‘mother and mother’ on the birth certificate. However, the child will be permitted to know the identity of the sperm donor at the age of 18. There are several speculations about the bill. The French Academy of Medicine told the global media that this could have serious psychological impact on the child. Some French media said that the bill is capable of dismantling the foundation of humanity. 

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