# 2020-107 Medical and Dental Care, In Vitro Fertilization, Spectrum of Care

Case summary

F&R Date: 2021-01-21

The grievor and his civilian spouse required infertility treatment, and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) funding was denied. The Director Medical Policy confirmed that a semen analysis for the grievor was normal and noted that the Spectrum of Care (SoC) only covers intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) when male factor infertility is present. He also noted that the SoC only applies to CAF members, not civilian spouses. Therefore, in vitro fertilization (IVF) was not covered for the grievor's civilian spouse.

The Commander, Canadian Forces Health Services Group, acting as the Initial Authority (IA), denied the grievance. The IA stated that the SoC in effect at the time only funded ICSI where male factor infertility is present, and IVF for female CAF members in the case of bilateral fallopian tube obstruction. The IA concluded that neither the grievor nor his spouse were eligible for CAF funding of infertility treatments.

The Committee found that, in accordance with the SoC in effect at the time, the grievor's civilian spouse had no entitlement to CAF-funded IVF. The Committee also found that the grievor, whose sperm analysis showed normal sperm, was not entitled to ICSI treatment under the SoC.

FA decision summary

The Chief of the Defence Staff agreed with the Committee's findings and recommendation.