Mitochondrial donation: the Australian story

The landscape of healthcare is perpetually changing, with new and innovative treatment techniques constantly emerging. We are also improving the ability to investigate (and prevent) specific inherited conditions through pre-implantation diagnosis and other medical interventions. One such category of medical intervention is mitochondrial donation, which is currently permitted (under strict conditions) in the United Kingdom but is prohibited in Australia. Recently, under the directions of the Hon Greg Hunt, MP (Minister for Health) the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) opened a dialogue to consider the regulatory, scientific, and ethical issues of mitochondrial donation.