21 Feb 2024 IVF Daddies Discuss Egg Donor Contracts With IFLG Attorney Molly O'Brien
To watch on IVF Daddies Channels:
In this episode, we interview Molly O'Brien, a renowned egg donor and surrogacy lawyer. Molly explains the importance of having a lawyer in the IVF process and how they provide independent guidance to intended parents. The conversation then delves into the egg donation process, including choosing a donor, screening, and the legal contract. Molly highlights that once the egg leaves the donor's body, it becomes the property of the intended parents, giving them full rights over its use. The different types of egg donor contracts, such as anonymous, semi-open, and open, are discussed, along with the challenges of maintaining anonymity in the digital age. The episode concludes with a discussion on building a relationship with the egg donor and the unique considerations when working with family members or friends as donors.
Takeaways
Having a lawyer in the IVF process provides independent guidance and ensures the intended parents' interests are represented. The egg donation process involves choosing a donor, screening, and signing a legal contract. Once the egg leaves the donor's body, it becomes the property of the intended parents, giving them full rights over its use. Egg donor contracts can be anonymous, semi-open, or open, with varying levels of contact and disclosure.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Importance of a Lawyer in the IVF Process
02:24 Egg Donation Process: Choosing a Donor and Matching
03:19 Egg Donor Screening and Legal Contract
04:37 Egg Donation Legal Contract and Donor Rights
05:35 Contents of an Egg Donor Legal Contract
07:33 Different Types of Egg Donor Contracts: Anonymous, Semi-Open, and Open
09:28 Challenges of Anonymous Egg Donations in the Digital Age
10:25 Building a Relationship with the Egg Donor
11:22 Contracts with Family Members or Friends as Egg Donors
12:49 Conclusion and Call to Action
ABOUT MOLLY
Molly O’Brien has worked in the field of Assisted Reproduction since 2005. Before becoming a world recognized lawyer helping parents around the world with their legal contracts, Molly worked for an Egg Donation Agency and also for a Surrogacy Agency. During this time she became familiar with all aspects of the assisted reproduction field. Since becoming an attorney in 2011, she has gained extensive experience in drafting and negotiating Surrogacy, Sperm and Egg Donation as well as Embryo Donation Contracts. Ms. O’Brien has also appeared before many local Judges to help parents finalize their parental rights, and has extensive experience in obtaining all of the documents necessary for her clients to return to their home country.
Molly O’Brien graduated Magna Cum Laude from Whittier Law School and authored a Whittier Law Review titled: An Intersection of Ethics and the Law: The Frozen Embryo Dilemma and the Chilling Choice Between Life and Death. Ms. O’Brien is the Past Chair of the Legal Professional Group section of ASRM.
Additionally, Ms. O’Brien is a member of the ABA’s ART Executive Committee, the ABA SponsorshipCommittee, the ABA CLE Committee, and she is the co-chair of the ABA Legislative Committee. Having served on the Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy Legal Committee and the Conference Planning Committee for several years, she is now the President through 2025.
In Molly's spare time she is an avid sailor and races on many different boats. She has a special love for getting more women out sailing and has done several all-female crew races.