Rich-Vaughn-Blog-International-Law

Advocates, Opponents of ART Vie for Hearts and Minds

In statehouses throughout the United States, in courtrooms and international policy-making bodies, and in global organizations such as the United Nation’s Conference on Women, an orchestrated movement of social conservatives is waging a campaign to pass laws and enact policies banning various forms of assisted reproductive technology.

Earlier this year, Jennifer Lahl, president and founder of the Center for Bioethics and Culture (CBC), addressed delegates to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, in conjunction with a screening of Lahl’s anti-ART film series. Lahl, a former pediatric nurse and documentary filmmaker, has produced three films deeply critical of egg and sperm donation, in vitro fertilization and surrogacy, and she has become a leading voice in this movement. Recently, Lahl’s organization, the Center for Bioethics and Culture, wrote a letter to the Hague Conference on Private International Law recommending that surrogacy, as well as egg donation, be banned altogether, calling them an “extreme form of exploitation of women” and “indistinguishable from the buying and selling of children.”

Lahl’s organization is but one of many organized in opposition to ART. Alana S. Newman was conceived via ART and is founder of The Anonymous Us Project, which offers an online forum for people to tell their stories about their experiences with ART. Newman’s position is that secrecy and protection of the identities of donors is detrimental to the wellbeing of children born via ART and that children are damaged by being denied access to gestational carriers and biological parents.

Kathleen Sloan is a former program coordinator for the Council for Responsible Genetics, a non-profit organization founded 25 years ago that historically played a watchdog role in the areas of behavioral genetics and genetically modified foods. Most recently, the organization has taken a critical position toward mitochondrial DNA replacement therapy, which Sloan calls “3-person IVF,” which prevents women with mitochondrial disease from passing the genetic disorder on to their children conceived via ART. Sloan has testified in several states in support of laws banning surrogacy, using her position as a National Organization for Women (NOW) board member to imply she represents that organization’s point of view. In fact, she has infuriated members of state and local NOW chapters, many of whom passionately support surrogacy and ART.

Another high-profile voice in the movement to condemn ART is Harold J. Cassidy, the attorney in the notorious 1986 Baby M case, in which surrogate Mary Beth Whitehead, after giving birth to a daughter on behalf of an infertile couple, refused to give the child up. Since then, Cassidy has built a career on representing surrogates who change their minds as well as women who claim to have been harmed by abortion providers.

A closer look at these activists and organizations indicates all follow the same basic script: their websites are full of terminology such as “natural law and moral order,” “rented wombs,” “the shape of the human future,” “human trafficking” and “baby selling.” Their language dehumanizes the practice of assisted reproductive technologies and the families created via ART, ringing eerily similar to the recent headline-making statements of luxury designers Dolce and Gabbana. For those of us working to educate decision makers and the public about the benefits of ART and to expand legal protections for intended parents and ART families, state by state, nation by nation, it is frustrating and disappointing to watch others work to dismantle the progress toward procreative freedom achieved through technological advances and evolving societal acceptance.

By framing their anti-ART position as opposition to the exploitation of women, social conservatives have found a more politically palatable substitute for abortion as a political wedge issue. Many of the same players who oppose surrogacy, egg and sperm donation, and IVF also are opposed to women’s right to choose.

ART opponents also decry its use by same-sex couples to create families. As state after state has toppled to federal court rulings legalizing same-sex marriage, the anti-ART movement has grown more strident in opposition to prevent gay men from “buying babies” via ART.

This is not to deny that exploitation of surrogates and other bad outcomes do occur in a small number of cases, most often in countries where there are very high rates of poverty, substandard health care, and lack of consistent legislative or regulatory oversight. Although the number of good outcomes undoubtedly exceeds the bad outcomes, international media is quick to jump on and sensationalize the worst cases—unfortunately conveying the impression that abuse and exploitation are rampant.

In India, Thailand, Mexico and elsewhere, poverty and cultural factors increase the risk that economically-disadvantaged women might be financially coerced into participating in surrogacy or egg donation. In India, for example, deeply-ingrained cultural beliefs and a rigid caste system place some women at a social and economic disadvantage.

In the United States, although rare instances of financial coercion of women no doubt have occurred, the culture and legal environment are quite different—and indeed, in many ways, unique in the world. Here legal precedent infers a constitutional “right” to procreate, which increasingly has led to employee benefits and health insurance that cover treatment for infertility, including ART. U.S. law also views the status of the birth mother or surrogate differently from most of the world, including other Western nations, and a woman’s right to an abortion is protected under federal law, unlike most of the world. U.S. cultural ideals and legal precedent tend to protect the rights of the individual rather than favor government intervention in health care or procreation.

Of course it is essential to prevent the exploitation of poor or emotionally vulnerable women. In our fertility law practice we go above and beyond to counsel intended parents and surrogates to make sure all parties are aware of their rights and responsibilities and to make sure the child or children are legally protected and secure. In the United States, fertility physicians, attorneys and mental healthcare professionals operate under the highest standards of care and stringent ethical guidelines. Surrogates and egg donors are carefully screened to ensure they are participating willingly and not from financial desperation and that they are emotionally and physically prepared for their roles. Non-profit organizations such as the Path To Parenthood (formerly the American Fertility Association) and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and academic researchers continue to conduct studies to identify best practices and in-depth analyses of the social risks of ART, resulting in a widely adopted “safer path” for surrogates and donors.

For all those reasons, ART has gained widespread cultural acceptance in the U.S., arguably to an extent unique in the world. At the same time, we must not deny the reality that abuses and malfeasance do occur.

But the answer is not to ban IVF, surrogacy, egg and sperm donation and other ART methods. In fact, the most sensationalized, highly publicized cases of ART gone wrong have resulted from lack of regulation of ART, in parts of the world where the legal system simply does not address the issue at all.

As an attorney who practices solely in fertility law, and as a gay dad, with my husband, of twin boys born via egg donation and surrogacy, I am struck by the ART opponents’ refusal to acknowledge the many infertile couples and loving single parents or same-sex couples who, without this miraculous technology, would never know the joy of parenting. There are no “accidental” pregnancies with ART; children born through this technology are deeply loved and wanted.

Advocates of banning ART make skillful use of our modern 24-7 news cycle, seizing on the worst, most salacious cases and portraying that handful of tragic outcomes as the norm. In this war of words, the numbers are firmly on the side of proponents of ART. Even in the parts of the world generating the most sensational headlines the happy endings far outnumber the tragedies.

As modern medical technology continues to offer new and more effective ways to treat infertility and make parenthood a reality for more and more people, our goal is for local, national and international laws and public policies to keep pace. Those who are working to prevent technological advances and turn public opinion against ART are loud and well organized. But in the end we believe the voices of loving families, parents and kids who have benefited from ART, and surrogates and donors who give the gift of parenthood to others, will win this battle for hearts and minds.

Richard Vaughn
rich@iflg.net

Attorney Rich Vaughn is founder and principal of International Fertility Law Group, one of the world’s largest and best-known law firms focused exclusively on assisted reproductive technology, or ART, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), surrogacy, sperm donation or egg donation. Rich is co-author of the book “Developing A Successful Assisted Reproduction Technology Law Practice,” American Bar Association Publishing, 2017.

Peiya Wang
PEIYA WANG(王培娅)
Paralegal (律师助理)

Peiya Wang joined IFLG as a paralegal in 2015, where she manages surrogacy, egg donation and parental establishment cases and provides translation services for many of IFLG’s international clients. Peiya moved to the United States in 2012 to attend Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, receiving a Master of Science degree in Global Studies and International Affairs in 2014. Peiya moved to Los Angeles in 2015, received her paralegal certification from UCLA Extension, and obtained her second Master of Science degree in Legal Studies from Loyola Law School. Peiya relocated back to her hometown, Beijing, China in 2019 and works from IFLG’s Beijing office. When away from the office, Peiya is a dragon boat paddler and a ballroom dancer, where she favors Rumbas and Cha-chas. She is fluent in Mandarin and English.

Luis Sosa
LUIS SOSA
Paralegal

Luis R. Sosa joined IFLG as a paralegal in 2016, where he enjoys pursuing his passion for family and reproductive law. While working toward his bachelor’s degree at Florida International University which he received in 2013, Luis worked as a paralegal and legal assistant for family law litigation firms in Miami and Washington, D.C. As a paralegal and case manager for IFLG, Luis, who is bilingual in English and Spanish, manages surrogacy, egg donation and other reproductive law cases. Luis has worked for IFLG in both Los Angeles as well as San Francisco, and is currently based in Dallas, Texas. In addition to spending time with husband Randy and dog Marty, Luis enjoys being outdoors and appreciating the arts.

Toni Hughes
TONI BOONE
Paralegal

After receiving her B.S. in Business Management, Toni joined IFLG to pursue her dream of working in the legal field. As a Paralegal with over 10 years of experience in the assisted reproduction technology field, Toni is our Managing Paralegal, responsible for training and managing our paralegal staff. From drafting legal documents to assisting our clients with post-birth matters, Toni embraces the challenge of learning something new in this field each day. Besides spending time with her son, Jordan, Toni enjoys exploring new things, cooking, spending time with family and friends, and serving as a Youth Advisor for “Next Generation.”

Kim
KIM DEVEREAUX
Paralegal

Kim has over 30 years of experience in the legal field and has worked exclusively in surrogacy and assisted reproduction law since 1999. Kim is a senior case manager responsible for managing parental establishment cases and interacting with IFLG’s Of Counsel attorneys across the country. With three children of her own, Kim understands the importance of family and finds working in this area of law a rewarding experience.

Rich Vaughn
RICHARD B. VAUGHN
Founder

Attorney Rich Vaughn combined his personal passion as a father of twin boys born via assisted reproductive technology (ART) with more than 20 years of experience in business and technology law to build International Fertility Law Group. Today IFLG is one of the most successful and best-known law firms in the world focused exclusively on fertility law, helping thousands of intended parents through empathetic listening, compassionate guidance, and unmatched legal expertise. As an advocate for reproductive freedom, Rich also contributes his knowledge and time to improving the understanding and practice of ART law, most recently as a founder of and speaker at the first Cambridge University International Surrogacy Symposium held in June 2019, as immediate past chair of the American Bar Association ART Committee, and as a popular presenter to law schools, faculty and advocacy organizations all over the world.

Elizabeth Tamayo
ELIZABETH TAMAYO
Paralegal

Elizabeth received her Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice from California State University of Los Angeles. Shortly after graduating, she continued her education at the University of California, Los Angeles where she obtained her Paralegal certificate. Elizabeth is fluent in Spanish and has been in the legal field since 2009. She is excited to be a part of the IFLG Team helping families realize their dreams.

Sunny Chien
SUNNY CHIEN
Paralegal

Sunny joined IFLG as a paralegal in 2017, where she manages surrogacy, egg donation and parental establishment cases for many of IFLG’s international clients. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from California State University of Los Angeles, where she graduated cum laude. Sunny is bilingual in English and Mandarin and has extensive experience as a legal assistant and paralegal at Los Angeles-area law firms. She is excited to be part of the IFLG team. In her spare time, Sunny enjoys spending time with her family and their dog, going to the beach, cooking, and being outdoors.

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Molly O'Brien
MOLLY O'BRIEN
Partner

Fertility law attorney Molly O’Brien began working in the field of assisted reproduction technology (ART) in 2005, at an egg donation agency and a surrogacy agency where she became familiar with all aspects of in-vitro fertilization, egg donation and the financial aspects of surrogacy. Since becoming an attorney in 2011, Molly has drafted and negotiated surrogacy, egg donation, sperm donation embryo donation agreements for hundreds of her clients all over the world.

Phoebe Sadler
PHOEBE S. SADLER
Associate

Fertility law attorney Phoebe Sadler has a background in family law and has been practicing exclusively in the area of assisted reproduction technology (ART) law since 2018.

Rubina Aslanyan
RUBINA ASLANYAN
Paralegal

Rubina has an extensive background in the legal field as a paralegal in Family Law and has worked in surrogacy and assisted reproduction law since 2012. Her area of focus is in managing and assisting clients with surrogacy, egg donation, and parental establishment cases for many of IFLG’s domestic and international clients. During her spare time, Rubina enjoys spending time with her family and dog Bella, traveling and cooking.

Alexander Espinoza
ALEXANDER ESPINOZA
Legal Assistant

Alexander joined IFLG as a legal assistant in 2019, where he manages surrogacy, egg donation and parental establishment cases. Alex is bilingual in English and Spanish and has been in the legal field for 23 years. Alex is excited to join the IFLG team and pursuing his will to help others in the reproductive law process. In his spare time he loves spending time with his family and friends, being outdoors, road trips, loves music and dancing.

Cara Stecker
CARA STECKER
Senior Paralegal

After receiving her paralegal certificate in 2005, Cara began working in assisted reproductive law. During the fifteen years Cara has worked in this field, she has gained a wide range of experience and knowledge that she uses to help better assist clients and those involved in the assisted reproductive journey. Cara’s primary roles involve managing parental establishment matters and coordination with IFLG’s Of Counsel attorney network, drafting contracts and parental establishment court documents and providing support to other team members. Cara finds great joy in being a small part of a team of caring people who help others achieve their dream of having a family. In her spare time, Cara enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, watching her children play the sports they love, and she enjoys, running, cycling and exploring the outdoors in the sun.

Stephanie Kimble
STEPHANIE KIMBLE
Paralegal

Stephanie received her BS in History and Political Thought from Concordia University Irvine in 2015 and her Paralegal Certificate from University of San Diego later that same year. She has been working as a Paralegal since 2016 in Family and Reproductive Law. She is excited to be part of International Fertility Law Group working on managing Surrogacy, Egg donation and Parental Establishment Cases.

Trish Pittman
TRISH PITTMAN
Assistant Financial Coordinator

With more than 20 years of experience in the field of accounting, Trish joined the IFLG team in 2019 as Assistant Financial Coordinator. Her client-facing focus at IFLG is to assist with all client trust accounting. Trish is the mother of two daughters and enjoys spending time teaching and learning new things from them. In her free time, she loves long walks in the park and reading suspense and mystery novels.

Katie Deaquino
KATIE DEAQUINO
Senior Paralegal

Katie is a Senior Paralegal with IFLG and has dedicated over sixteen years to the areas of surrogacy and reproductive law. She received her Paralegal Certificate from Coastline Community College and has worked with some of the top law firms in the assisted reproduction community. Katie is also a commissioned Notary Public. With IFLG, Katie manages Surrogacy, Egg Donation, and Parental Establishment cases and provides support to other IFLG team members. Katie truly enjoys helping others build their families through assisted reproduction and is thankful she has had the rewarding experience of assisting IFLG clients. Katie often spends her free time with her Husband, four young children and her bulldog “Bella”.

Elsa Jimenez
ELSA JIMENEZ
Legal Assistant

Elsa joined IFLG as a Legal Assistant in 2019, bringing more than 35 years of experience working in the legal profession (concentrating in tort and litigation matters). At IFLG she assists surrogates with their surrogacy and parental matters. The oldest of five siblings, born and raised in East Los Angeles to Mexican immigrant parents, Elsa loves “seeing the beauty of families forming” through assisted reproductive technology. She and her husband Carlos have four children and one grandson. Elsa enjoys jazz and ’80s music, being outdoors in nature, collecting teacups and tea pots, and spending time with her close-knit family.