Lessons from the sperm shortage

[reader]

Laos is apparently experiencing a shortage of sperm and has resorted to importing it--illegally--from Thailand.  Don't ever recall having difficulty finding Thai and other SE Asian guys willing to donate their precious bodily fluid for, say, 300 baht a pop in any number of venues in Bangkok and Pattaya.

 

This particular phrase caught my attention in a news article from today's The Nation: "...taking sperm out of the country is not legal...". How much more prodding do we need to ensure that we take every opportunity to depart Swampy with our supply fully exhausted.

 

If that's not enough, consider the possible consequences: "Licences could be suspended." You mean we won't be allowed to drive again? Seems harsh.

 

From The Nation

 

AN ASSISTED Reproductive Technology (ART) clinic in Bangkok has denied any connection with the man who attempted to smuggle what is believed to be human sperm out of the country to another fertility clinic in Laos where surrogate pregnancies are not as strictly regulated as in Thailand.

 

Officials from the Health Service Support Department of the Thai Public Health Ministry yesterday inspected the premises of the unnamed ART clinic on Bangkok’s Phloenchit Road after it was cited by Nithinon Srithaniyanun, the courier, as one of the four clinics in Bangkok where he had picked up the sperm for delivery to another fertility clinic in the Laotian capital of Vientiane

.

Nithinon was earlier arrested by authorities at the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge checkpoint in the northeastern Thai province of Nong Khai where he attempted to smuggle six tubes of what is believed to be human sperm stored in a frozen |nitrogen tank into the neighbouring country.

 

Dr Thongchai Keeratihuttayakorn, deputy director-general of the Health Service Support Department, said the agency would take legal action against wrongdoers after contents in the frozen nitrogen tank carried by Nithinon are scientifically confirmed as human sperms, eggs and/or embryos.

 

Thongchai said the Thai fertility clinic had denied any connection with the courier and had given a copy of the clinic’s complaint filed with police against Nithinon to public health authorities. The clinic admitted the human sperm belonged to two of its clients from China and Vietnam who had authorised a person to pick up the sperm but the clinic has no knowledge of the courier and his delivery service, according to Thongchai.

 

The foreign clients said they wanted to take the sperm to be used at another fertility clinic, which is the patients’ right, but they were informed in advance that taking sperm out of the country is not legal, according to Sarayuth.

 

Licences could be suspended.

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30312989

 

Or perhaps it's all part of a vast conspiracy?