Plan to use IVF for body spares

Fertility doctors have unveiled extraordinary plans to create an IVF baby with a twin that could be plundered for spare body parts.

Scientists want to split embryos just after fertilisation, implanting one half in the mother's womb and putting the other half on ice.

The frozen embryo could then be used to provide stem cells or even organs for transplants - offering its sibling, which would be born naturally, an amazing 'insurance policy' against ill-health.

But the plan has sparked outrage from reproductive ethics groups and has been condemned by Britain's most eminent fertility doctors.

The scheme is promoted by US professor Panayiotis Zavos - who is also attempting to create the world's first human clone - and Britain's Dr Paul Rainsbury.

They want to offer couples undergoing IVF the chance to create a spare embryo, which would be an exact genetic match for their baby.

The treatment involves artificially triggering the process that leads to the development of twins - but only allowing one embryo to mature. The other will be kept in storage until needed.

Details of the scheme are being kept under wraps until the official announcement tomorrow.

It is under-stood that Dr Rainsbury, who runs a Harley Street fertility centre, has agreed to refer British patients to Professor Zavos's clinic in Kentucky.

Colleagues in the fertility field reacted with anger. Dr Peter Brinsden, medical director of the Bourn Hall Clinic, said: 'It is deeply unethical.'

Robert Forman, medical director of the Centre for Reproductive Medicine, said: 'I don't think we are ready for this. It is like cannibalisation.'

Josephine Quintivalle, of the pro-life group Comment on Reproductive Ethics described the plan as 'horrifying'.