What is the Patient Review Panel?
The Patient Review Panel (the panel) is established under section 82 of the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 2008 (Vic) (the ART Act) and is independent of the Department of Health (the Department) and assisted reproductive treatment (ART) providers. The role of the panel is to consider applications relating to:
- surrogacy arrangements where treatment is to occur in Victoria (ss39-45)
- posthumous use of gametes and embryos (ss46-48)
- where a registered ART provider or doctor reasonably believes that a child that may be born would be at risk of abuse or neglect (s15(1)(c))
- where an applicant does not meet the criteria for treatment (s10(2)(a) and s15(1)(b))
- requests for an extensions of storage period of gametes or embryos or the removal of embryos from storage (ss31-34A)
- the use of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis for the purpose of sex selection (s28(2)(b)).
The ART Act further provides that the panel may perform any other functions given to it by the Minister for Health (s85(1)(g)).
In carrying out its functions, the panel ensures that the guiding principles of the ART Act (s5) are considered at all times. The guiding principles of the ART Act are that:
- the welfare and interests of persons born or to be born as a result of treatment procedures are paramount
- at no time should the use of treatment procedures be for the purpose of exploiting, in trade or otherwise -
- the reproductive capabilities of individuals or
- children born as a result of treatment procedures
- children born as the result of the use of donated gametes have a right to information about their donors
- the health and wellbeing of persons undergoing treatment procedures must be protected at all times
- persons seeking to undergo treatment procedures must not be discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation, marital or relationship status, gender identity, sex characteristics, race or religion.
The panel is further guided by any other relevant legislation and the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Ethical guidelines on the use of assisted reproductive technology in clinical practice and research (2017).
Composition of the panel
Members, including the chairperson and deputy chairpersons, are appointed to the panel by the Governor in Council (s83) for a period of no longer than 3 years (s86 and s87(A)).
Applications to the panel are considered by a full division of the panel consisting of the chairperson, a deputy chairperson and 3 other members, at least one of whom has expertise in child protection (s85(3).
Applications for an extended storage period of gametes or embryos or the removal of embryos from storage (s31-34A) may be determined by the chairperson or a single member determined by the chairperson (s85(2)(b)), however, in practice applications of this nature are more commonly considered by a full division of the panel.
Panel members
The panel currently consists of 13 members, including the chairperson and 3 deputy chairpersons.
Support staff
The panel is not authorised to employ staff so is supported by the following Department of Health staff:
- Ms Anne Mullins - Manager/Associate
- Mr Nikolous Armstrong - Senior Project Officer
- Ms Samantha Redding - Senior Solicitor
- Ms Helene Regan - Administration Officer
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