Rich Vaughn, IFLG: Laws Needed to Regulate Abandoned Frozen Embryos

Uniform Laws Needed to Regulate Abandoned Embryos

Over the past few decades, technological advances have made the miracle of reproduction and parenthood accessible to thousands of people who in an earlier time would have remained childless—people with genetic conditions, injuries or illnesses that result in infertility, people who are unpartnered or unmarried, and LGBTQ people. But, as so often happens in our human ecosystem, the growing number of people who benefit from assisted reproductive technology has resulted in an unintended consequence: a growing number of frozen (cryopreserved), unused, and, for all intents and purposes, abandoned embryos, many left to exist indefinitely in a frozen  no-man’s-land of legal uncertainty and unclear liability.

As we first wrote about this issue in 2017, the root of the problem lies, partially at least, in the amazing advances in assisted reproductive technology. In the early days of vitro fertilization and embryo implantation, when successful outcomes were less certain, IVF doctors would typically implant multiple fresh embryos, newly fertilized in the lab, in hopes of achieving one successful pregnancy and birth, as CBS News reported earlier this year. Often, in another one of those unintended consequences, twins or multiple births resulted.

As cryopreservation technology improved, best practices in IVF evolved as well. “Now, couples usually freeze many embryos, test for health problems and transfer the most viable one at a time to avoid multiple births. That often means leftovers once the desired family is complete,” CBS News reported.

The success and growing reliability of advanced cryopreservation techniques opened new reproductive horizons for lots of people who otherwise could never have dreamed of having biologically related children. Young cancer patients undertaking invasive radiation or chemotherapies now had the option to freeze eggs or sperm years in hopes of procreating in a cancer-free adulthood, as did combat soldiers and others facing dangerous missions and career-focused individuals looking to put family-building off to a later time in life.

Advanced cryopreservation also had other exciting benefits. Infertile individuals or couples who succeeded in producing multiple viable embryos now could “bank” some for a future when they may or may not desire to have more children, without undergoing the sometimes arduous and costly cycle of egg extraction and fertilization again.

It is those “leftovers” that pose an a rapidly growing and seemingly intractable problem for the fertility industry.

These cryopreserved embryos, which might or might not be used in the future, and which might or might not result in successful pregnancy and birth if they were used, created a whole new set of legal issues, unimagined 30 years ago. Who has the right to decide whether frozen, unused embryos may be used or destroyed? IVF clinics began requiring intended parents, either at the onset of treatment or before viable embryos were stored, to sign medical consent forms with statements addressing future disposition of remaining embryos. Typically, these consent forms state how remaining embryos will be disposed of in the event the intended parents separate or divorce or in the event of the death of one or both parents. Typically, parents must choose among four options: to store embryos—for a fee, either at the clinic or an outside storage facility; to destroy them; to donate them to third persons for purposes of procreation; or to donate them for scientific research or training.

The now-standard use of such embryo disposition consent forms has helped a lot in avoiding conflicts between intended parents and, when that’s not possible, in helping courts determine the original intent of intended parents when existing embryos become caught up in a divorce matter.

But despite the widespread use of embryo disposition consent forms at IVF clinics, the problem of abandoned, unused frozen embryos has mushroomed. As we reported in 2017, no one is sure how many embryos are in storage in the United States—clinics and storages facilities are not required to report those numbers—but estimates range from hundreds of thousands to several million. The estimated portion of those that are “abandoned”—i.e., where storage fees are unpaid, and the owners cannot be contacted after reasonable measures to do so—ranges from 1 percent to as high as 18 percent at some clinics, according to the CBS report.

This burgeoning population of frozen embryos has spawned a whole new industry, as high-tech companies such as Reprotech ramp up long-term storage solutions for over-capacity clinics and intended parents who want to keep future options open.

This widespread abandonment presents IVF clinics, cryopreservation facilities and fertility doctors with a lose-lose decision: Discard abandoned embryos (after a set stated amount of time and after reasonable efforts at contact), risking the grief and anger of bereaved intended parents and negative publicity; or continue storing abandoned embryos, unreimbursed, for eternity—or until embryos are no longer viable.

Cryopreserved embryos have proven amazingly resilient; indeed, we reported about one case in which an embryo frozen for more than 20 years, donated to a 42-year-old woman, resulted in a healthy birth. The CBS story reports on a live birth resulting from implantation of a 24-year-old embryo. Scientists speculate that embryos stored in precisely controlled conditions might remain viable for decades. A 1980s study on mouse embryos indicated they could remain viable for a simulated 2,000 years.

There are myriad reasons why intended parents abandon the embryos that at one time were important enough for them to undergo invasive, time-consuming and expensive procedures to create. Arguably no areas of human life are more fraught with existential emotion than relationships, procreation and parenthood.

Most intended parents have good intentions; at the time they sign the disposition agreement, it sounds perfectly reasonable that, should they decide not to use remaining embryos within X number of years, the embryos can be discarded or donated. But then a beautiful child or two is born, created from embryos from that same frozen batch, and suddenly discarding the remainders in five years, or donating them to another family one doesn’t even know, doesn’t feel right anymore.

Cost also plays a role. Storage costs range from a few hundred dollars to more than $1,000 a year, depending on the facility.

Among these and other reasons embryos might be abandoned, couples break up, families relocate, and sometimes they “forget” to leave a forwarding address. Anecdotally, the underlying reasons are often more emotional. Destruction of embryos created during a loving relationship gone south can trigger feelings of grief and loss. Discarding embryos can mean discarding one’s only chance of having more children in the future. Sometimes, faced with such wrenching choices, intended parents simply avoid them, leaving fertility professionals to make the call.

In some countries the length of time frozen embryos can be stored is limited by law, relieving facilities of the burden of the decision. In UK, for example, as we wrote earlier, embryos may be stored for a maximum of 10 years for purposes of delaying reproduction. In Sweden, only unfertilized zygotes (eggs or sperm) may be stored, for a maximum of five years. As reported by NBC News earlier this month, Germany and Italy limit the number of embryos that can be created and implanted at one time.

In the United States, there is no legal time limit on storage of eggs, sperm or embryos, and when intended parents renege on their dispositive responsibilities, clinics are left with a growing and increasingly risky problem.

In the absence of legal guidance, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Ethics Committee has attempted to provide ethical guidelines for clinics and storage facilities.

At present, the law does not give clear guidance on when it is lawful to discard abandoned embryos, although it is reasonable to consider that the law will treat the embryos, after a certain passage of time, as abandoned. In the face of legal uncertainty, some programs might prefer to continue storage of abandoned embryos indefinitely. Other programs will find the risk of liability to be acceptable and dispose of embryos after a lengthy passage of time and unsuccessful efforts to contact those with dispositional control. As an ethical matter, a program should be free to dispose of embryos after a passage of time and unavailability of a responsible individual or couple that reasonably indicates that the couple has abandoned the embryos. A program's willingness to store embryos does not imply an ethical obligation to store them indefinitely. An individual who, or couple that, has not given written instruction for disposition, has not been in contact with the program for a substantial period of time, has not provided current contact information, and who cannot be located after reasonable attempts by the program and facility, cannot reasonably claim an ethical violation on the part of the program or facility that treats the embryos as abandoned and disposes of them. This statement notwithstanding, the Committee recognizes the legal uncertainty surrounding a determination of abandonment and does not provide legal advice in this regard for the program or facility.

While it is easy to understand and empathize with intended parents faced with the difficult decision of what to do with unused embryos, it’s also important to acknowledge that the medical professionals who work so hard to create new life, to fulfill the dreams of would-be parents, are human, too. Most are passionately devoted to their specialty and to making parenthood possible for their patients. For many, the unfair burden of being forced to unilaterally decide whether to preserve or destroy the products of their labor and expertise is too heavy. The obvious solution is to support clinics and cryopreservation facilities with long-overdue legislation, regulating and standardizing the rules around abandonment and storage requirements, so that the burden of decision—and the risk of legal liability—is lifted.

 

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.