Junior health minister Jet Bussemaker has asked Maastricht teaching hospital not to take any ‘irreversible steps’ to make embryo screening for a virulent form of breast cancer possible.

Bussemaker has been forced to withdraw her formal support for screening following protests from coalition partner and orthodox Christian group ChristenUnie. The cabinet will debate the issue in the next few weeks.
By law there is nothing to stop the hospital from carrying out the selection process because plans by the previous government to impose restrictions were not put into legislation. The hospital is the only one in the country to carry out embryo screening. Five women are waiting for treatment.