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13
Feb
2024

Blog, Louisa Ghevaert, Modern Family Law, Surrogacy Law

Surrogacy: What Do Midwives Need To Know?

Louisa Ghevaert is delighted to join a panel of speakers on a webinar hosted by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) on 22 February 2024 entitled "Surrogacy: What Do Midwives Need To Know?". Louisa's session will help ensure midwives are aware of the current legal framework around surrogacy in the UK, and proposed legal changes, to enable them to provide appropriate care and support. The webinar will also provide extensive lived experiences of surrogates and intended parents within maternity services with sessions from Sarah Jones from Surrogacy UK and Michael and Wes Johnson-Ellis from My Surrogacy Journey.

08
Feb
2024

Blog, Embryo Law, Fertility Law, Louisa Ghevaert

IVF Add-Ons: How Should We Score the HFEA’s New Ratings System?

On 7 February 2024 Louisa Ghevaert was delighted to attend Progress Educational Trust's informative event on the HFEA's new IVF 'Add-Ons' ratings system. It looked at the development, understanding, evidence and use of IVF 'Add-Ons'. It also celebrated 25 years of publishing BioNews, an online newsletter publishing news on the science, law and ethics of human genetics, assisted conception, and related topics.

13
Jan
2024

Assisted Reproduction Law, Blog, Fertility Law, Louisa Ghevaert

Declining Global Fertility Rates: A Growing Problem

The global decline in fertility rates needs to be addressed according to an International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS) consensus paper published in Human Reproduction Update on 10 January 2024. It reports that half the countries around the world have a fertility rate below population replacement level. It goes on to predict that many countries will experience population decline of more than 50 percent between 2017 and 2100, leading to serious demographic changes and implications for societies around the world. As such, there needs to be greater focus on the human right to have a family, family-friendly policies and better access to fertility care.

04
Jan
2024

Assisted Reproduction Law, Blog, Embryo Law, Fertility Law, Posthumous Conception Law

Posthumous Conception Law: Should I Consider This?

Individual fertility is precious and fragile, making it worthy of protection in life and after death. A person's individual fertility enables the conception of a biological child. However, their fertility is impacted by age, health, declining fertility rates, personal circumstances, unexpected accident and death. The death of a loved one can be devastating for surviving partners, spouses and relatives. It can also create complex issues in seeking to fulfill a deceased loved one’s family building wishes and preserve their biological and genetic legacy. As such, it is important to proactively consider and actively protect individual fertility and biological legacy and not leave this to chance.

29
Dec
2023

Blog, Declaration of Parentage, Legal Parentage, Louisa Ghevaert, Modern Family Law

Declaration Of Parentage: Will This Resolve My Personal Identity, Legal And Biological Parenthood?

Questions about personal identity, legal and biological parenthood and birth certificates can arise in different ways and create all sorts of complex issues. In some cases, they can come about because of personal searches and histories involving absent parents, adoption and donor conception. For others, unexpected discoveries and issues can arise following a direct-to-consumer DNA test, death of a relative, conversation with a family member, an encounter with a genetic relative or an application for a new birth certificate or passport. This can in turn necessitate a court application for a Declaration of Parentage.

14
Dec
2023

Assisted Reproduction Law, Blog, Donor conception law, Embryo Law, Fertility Law, News, Surrogacy Law

Fertility Law Reform In The UK: How Much Change Do We Want?

On 6 December 2023, Progress Educational Trust held its excellent Annual Conference "How Much Change Do We Want? Updating Fertility Embryo And Surrogacy Law". The conference offered fascinating insight into the origins and history of fertility law in the UK, its evolution over time and the challenges we face moving forward given ongoing rapid developments in science, medicine and assisted reproductive technology.

13
Dec
2023

Blog, Surrogacy Law

UK Surrogacy Law Reform On Hold

On 9 November 2023, the UK government provided an interim response to the Law Commissions of England, Wales and Scotland’s recommendations for UK surrogacy law reform. In doing so, Maria Caulfield MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care), and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women), stated that “While we appreciate the importance of this work, parliamentary time does not allow for these changes to be taken forward at the moment.” She further stated that government would publish its full response in due course.

22
Nov
2023

Blog, Louisa Ghevaert, News, Surrogacy Law

Podcast: The Surrogate

In this podcast broadcaster and actress Sue Perkins and journalist Katherine Denkinson examine the story of how one woman, who took on over six different identities, infiltrated the lives of vulnerable people, and lied her way into gaining their trust. Episode 3 of this 6 part series entitled "Carrie Jade Does Not Exist: Episode 3 The Surrogate", tells the story of how one woman became an au pair and a surrogate. Fertility lawyer, Louisa Ghevaert, features in this episode discussing people's motivations for undergoing surrogacy, law and its regulation in the UK.

10
Nov
2023

Blog, Genomics, Louisa Ghevaert, News

Public Policy Projects Global Genomics Conference 2023

Louisa Ghevaert was delighted to attend the Public Policy Projects Global Genomics Conference 2023 on 9 November 2023 in Westminster, London and join the debate about key policy, structural and ethical considerations of participation in genomics. It opened with an insightful address by Rt Hon Stephen Dorrell, Executive Chairman of PPP. The Shadow Minister for Science Research and Innovation Chi Onwurah MP then delivered a keynote speech on what the UK has already achieved and what still needs to be done to release its full potential in genomics.

19
Oct
2023

Assisted Reproduction Law, Blog, Fertility Law

Male Infertility And Reproductive Health: A Growing Problem?

Male infertility and reproductive health issues are a growing global problem. Declining male fertility and reproductive health matters not just to individuals but to societies as well. It is resulting in fewer natural conceptions and greater uptake and reliance on assisted reproductive technologies. It is leading to fewer births and birth rates falling below population replacement levels, causing wider societal pressures and challenges. It can also indicate other serious and chronic health problems and reduced lifespans.

04
Oct
2023

Blog, Fertility Law, Louisa Ghevaert, News

Fertility Treatment Landscape For Those Living With HIV

Louisa Ghevaert was pleased to hear from Deborah Gold Chief Executive and Adam Freedman, Senior Policy and Research Officer at The National Aids Trust concerning the fertility treatment landscape in the UK for those living with HIV in conjunction with The Surrogacy Network on 28 September 2023.

20
Sep
2023

Blog, Genomics, Louisa Ghevaert, News

Genomics England Research Summit 2023

Louisa Ghevaert was delighted to attend Genomics England Research Summit at the Design Center in London on 19 September 2023. It brought together the genomics community to continue to advance research and drive forward much-needed healthcare benefits and genomic medicine for patients, parents, children and families. It was particularly encouraging to hear about progress with the Newborn Genome Screening Programme.

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