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Supreme Court hears landmark embryo case

Today a landmark ruling is expected in the Supreme Court, over whether a woman can have three frozen embryos implanted – though it is against her estranged husband's wishes. By Shelley Marsden - 15/12/09

The Sims fertility clinic in Dublin has been storing them since the couple had IVF treatment in 2002.

The marriage ended soon after the couple underwent IVF that year, but the woman, who already has one child, wants the three frozen embryos that are left implanted, while her husband does not.

Her case – that embryos could be termed the unborn and therefore have a constitutional right to life was rejected by the High Court in November 2006, but was appealed earlier this year.

At this stage, her lawyers also added the argument that her husband had signed forms meaning he consented to IVF treatment.

A Supreme Court judge said during the hearing that the Government's failure to regulate fertility treatment in Ireland was "extraordinary".

The decision is due today.