FRIDAY LEGAL UPDATES - Georgia, Quebec, UK & Missouri
It seems like I have been doing legal updates all week with the Georgia embryo legislation. However, I do have some updates on that state, as well as a few others. Let me know your thoughts on each one, as I think that the evolution of this field is rapidly progressing, and we all need a voice.
Georgia - HB 388 passed the House and is on its way to the Senate. It is essentially creating an embryo adoption format for the donation of embryos to others. As for SB169, many revisions have been made, and we will have to see where it goes. Resolve made the following update via their site:
"UPDATE: The Georgia Senate passed a revised SB 169 bill today, and the bill will now move to the Georgia House. Earlier today the Senate voted to table SB 169 which essentially took the bill out of further consideration by the Senate during this legislative session. During a break in the Senate chamber, the bill was revised once again and re-introduced. It was then voted on and passed 34 to 22. RESOLVE and its partners are now studying the revised SB 169 to determine the affect on infertility patients in Georgia. Once we have given the bill careful review, RESOLVE will provide a full analysis and what the next steps should be.
THANK YOU to the thousands of people around the country that cared about this issue. Georgia residents responded to our call to action with passion. NEARLY 100,000 letters, faxes, and emails were sent to Georgia Senators, BY Georgia residents, in the past 9 days. Hundreds of phone calls were made, and the infertility community in Georgia showed up when it mattered. We thank each and every one of you for what you have done. You have inspired the entire country with your activism. You are an inspiration. You have shown us that our voice matters and our voice will be heard."
Missouri - As in Georgia, the legislature in Missouri is pushing to restrict stem cell research. In SB 3219, lawmakers are trying to make certain that research in not done on human embryos in their state. The bill comes in response to the President's lifting of restrictions on stem cell research.
Quebec - Born to Surrogate, Child has No Legal Mother, Quebec Judge Rules
A Quebec woman has no legal right to the child she paid a surrogate mother to carry for her, a judge has ruled, leaving the child without a legal mother. The judge made this decision based on the fact that the husband's sperm had been used to fertilize the surrogate's egg - leaving the husband with the only claim to the child. In addition, surrogacy is illegal in Quebec.
UK - Government intends to prevent donor-egg children from contacting half siblings until they are 18
Strict rules proposed by the Government's fertility clinic watchdog is causing quite a stir from patient groups. It appears that couples have been doing this for some time, and HFEA wants to close a loophole.
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