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Mitchell, a sociologist, comments on a companion paper on in vitro fertilization by Peter Singer and Deane Wells. He criticizes the failure of Singer and Wells to consider the deleterious effects on society and on the children of artificial reproduction involving donated sperm or ova and accuses them of placing the desire of the individual to have a child above the good of society and of future generations. Singer, in a brief response, defends his utilitarian argument that reproductive technologies should be available to all. He does not consider knowledge of one's genetic identity to be a crucial issue, pointing out that the child's alternative is no existence at all.

To deal with the confusion surrounding clinical acceptability of specific oral contraceptive preparations, a single set of forms for use in clinical research, together with a set of definitions, was recommended. Senior representatives of major pharmaceutical companies engaging in clinical trials in the United Kingdom were invited to cooperate. The Family Planning Research Unit of the University of Exeter was requested to provide facilities for meetings which began in 1972. An agreed set of forms has been designed and set of definitions has been developed to make the collection and interpretation of data more efficient. Organizations carrying out oral contraceptive clinical trials are invited to contact this unit. Forms, definitions, and further information will be provided on request.