IFLG / Rich Vaughn / SB 257 / Surrogacy Law

A Quiet Fix for a Deep Injustice: California Moves to Protect Pregnancy in All Its Forms

California State Senate passed SB 257—the PARENT Act—with a unanimous vote. The bill aims to make pregnancy a qualifying event for special enrollment in health insurance plans, regardless of how the pregnancy was conceived. This includes situations like surrogacy or gestational carrying. The bill is intended to ensure that families formed through surrogacy are treated equally under California's health insurance laws.

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June 16, 2025

IFLG / Rich Vaughn

Happy Pride Month 2025

Pride is a celebration of love’s quiet defiance—and its enduring triumph. It’s a tribute to those who’ve made space for joy in a world that hasn’t always made space for them. At IFLG, we have the privilege of walking alongside LGBTQ+ individuals and couples who are building families not just with hope, but with intention, resilience, and grace.

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June 4, 2025

Assisted Reproductive Technology / Birthright Citizenship 2025 / IFLG / Rich Vaughn

Federal Court Temporarily Blocks Executive Order Which Attempts To Restrict Automatic Citizenship To Babies Born on U.S. Soil

U.S. District Court Judge John Coughenour blocked the implementation of the Executive Order, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional.”

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January 23, 2025

Assisted Reproductive Technology / Birthright Citizenship 2025 / IFLG / Rich Vaughn

Trump Administration Executive Order re: Birthright Citizenship and what it means for Surrogacy

Many IFLG clients and professional colleagues are confused and concerned about whether Mr. Trump, who’s second term started today, can eliminate or impact birthright citizenship in the U.S. and whether this will have any impact on the children born to intended parents coming to the U.S. for surrogacy.

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January 20, 2025

Assisted Reproductive Technology / Frozen Embryos / IFLG / Rich Vaughn

Rich Vaughn Featured in MIT Technology Review Article on Strange Limbo Facing Millions of IVF Embryos

Frozen embryos are filling storage banks around the world. It's a struggle to know what to do with them. Learn more as IFLG's Founding Partner, Rich Vaughn, is featured in an MIT Technology Review article by Jessica Hamzelou.

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January 14, 2025

Assisted Reproductive Technology / IFLG / International Surrogacy / Reproductive Laws / Rich Vaughn

Implications of the 2024 US Election Results on ART

There are consequences of the election results that are tangential and indirectly related to surrogacy and assisted reproduction. Notably for now, seven of the 10 state ballot measures enhancing or clarifying protections of abortion rights were successful.  

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November 15, 2024

Assisted Reproductive Technology / IFLG / International Surrogacy / Reproductive Laws / Rich Vaughn

Abortion Access, ART, and the US Elections

With the US Presidential Election only a couple of weeks away, those of us who work in the field of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) are paying very close attention to the polls. Among other extremely significant issues, abortion, ART, contraception, and what constitutes a family are all on the table.

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October 23, 2024

Assisted Reproductive Technology / IFLG / International Surrogacy / Reproductive Laws / Rich Vaughn / Surrogacy / Surrogacy Latest News

The Criminalization of Surrogacy in Italy

Italy has made it illegal for couples to go abroad to have a baby through surrogacy. It’s a move critics say would criminalize parenthood for some couples — in particular gay men.

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October 21, 2024

Assisted Reproductive Technology / Cryopreservation / Frozen Embryos / IFLG / In Vitro Fertilization / IVF / Reproductive Laws / Rich Vaughn / Texas Abortion Ban

IFLG Applauds Governor Newsom for Expanding Access to IVF in California

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 729 into law requiring large group health care service plan contracts and disability insurance policies to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility and fertility service, including in vitro fertilization (IVF).

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September 30, 2024

Assisted Reproductive Technology / Cryopreservation / Frozen Embryos / IFLG / In Vitro Fertilization / IVF / Reproductive Laws / Rich Vaughn / Texas Abortion Ban

Alabama High Court Ruling Deems Frozen Embryos Children, Threatens IVF and Sparks Backlash

Earlier this year, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that all embryos are legally regarded as children, stating that Alabama’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act applies to all unborn children, regardless of their location. By granting frozen embryos the same legal status as living children, the court's decision could dramatically alter how embryos created during assisted reproduction are managed, stored, and disposed of.

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September 27, 2024

Assisted Reproductive Technology / In Vitro Fertilization / IVF

Surrogacy Needs to be Regulated, Not Prohibited

The way to address potential concerns about surrogacy is not - as some say - prohibition or restriction, but in fact acceptance and robust regulation. Evidence shows that surrogacy is not inherently harmful and can - and almost always does - produce good outcomes for all involved.

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August 13, 2024

Assisted Reproductive Technology / Fertility Treatment / In Vitro Fertilization / IVF

Women: The Unsung Pioneers in the Development of IVF

While male scientists have traditionally received most of the credit for developing the field of assisted reproductive technology (ART), many women who pioneered vital components of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process have remained in the background. Yet without their often-heroic efforts, the rapid technological advancement and vastly improved outcomes characteristic of modern fertility treatment would not have been possible.

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July 26, 2024

Assisted Reproductive Technology / Intended Parents / Rich Vaughn

Bloomberg News Health & Law:
States’ IVF Coverage Gap for LGBTQ+ Intended Parents Featuring Rich Vaughn

State insurance laws and health plan policies on fertility coverage are under the microscope of lawmakers and fertility organizations seeking to eliminate what they see as discriminatory obstacles to health care for LGBTQ+ individuals.

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States’ IVF Coverage Gap for LGBTQ+ Intended Parents Featuring Rich Vaughn

June 5, 2024

Assisted Reproductive Technology / IFLG / IVF Daddies / Molly O'Brien / Surrogacy / Surrogacy Agreement

Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions NIAW Special With Molly O’Brien Esq.

Molly O'Brien, an attorney specializing in art law, shares her journey into the field of surrogacy and egg donation and becoming a passionate advocate for the rights of parents, surrogates, and donors alike. Molly discusses the importance of ethical practices in the surrogacy and egg donation industry and highlights the work of SEEDS (Society of Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy) in setting standards for agencies and industry professionals.

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May 6, 2024

Assisted Reproductive Technology / IFLG / IVF Daddies / Molly O'Brien / Surrogacy / Surrogacy Agreement

IVF Daddies Discuss Surrogacy Contracts With IFLG Attorney Molly O’Brien

IFLG's Molly O'Brien explains to IVF Daddies 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.

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April 22, 2024

Assisted Reproductive Technology / Donor-Conceived Individuals / Egg and Sperm Donors / Intended Parents / Rich Vaughn / sperm donation

The Importance of Telling Children They Were Donor-Conceived

With the ever-changing landscape of modern American family life and the growing number of children being born via sperm or egg donors, the pendulum of public opinion toward this topic, once shrouded in secrecy, has swung toward acceptance and honesty. In the more than 50 years since the inception of assisted reproductive technology (ART), society has slowly adopted a more open and honest approach to telling donor-conceived children about their origin story, as research now shows that they do better in society knowing their biological roots.

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April 11, 2024

Assisted Reproductive Technology / IFLG / IVF / Molly O'Brien / Surrogacy / Surrogacy Agreement / Surrogacy.IS

Molly O’Brien Offers Crucial Insights into Alabama’s Recent Embryo Decision to Surrogacy.IS

Attorney Molly O’Brien, Partner at International Fertility Law Group and President of @seedsethics , offers crucial insights into Alabama’s recent embryo wrongful death lawsuit decision. With over two decades of experience in surrogacy and egg donation, Molly advocates passionately ♥️ for reproductive freedoms and medical autonomy.

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March 7, 2024

Assisted Reproductive Technology / IFLG / In Vitro Fertilization / IVF Daddies

The Alabama Ruling: A Conversation with Fertility Lawyer Richard Vaughn

This week the world was shook by the surprise ruling of the Alabama Supreme Court, declaring that embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) should be considered children. When creating embryos, the patients are aware of the possibility that they may be destroyed and unable to be successfully transferred. However, with this new ruling legal consequences could come with unsuccessful transfers.

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March 1, 2024

Assisted Reproductive Technology / IFLG / IVF Daddies / Molly O'Brien / Surrogacy / Surrogacy Agreement

Catching Up With IFLG partner and current SEEDS President, Molly O’Brien, Esq.

Listen to IFLG partner and current SEEDS President, Molly O'Brien, Esq. discuss surrogacy with Carey Flamer-Powell, Founder and Director of Surrogacy Mentor and Modern Parent Mentor.

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February 22, 2024

Assisted Reproductive Technology / Egg Donation Information / IFLG / IVF Daddies / Molly O'Brien

IVF Daddies Discuss Egg Donor Contracts With IFLG Attorney Molly O’Brien

IFLG's Molly O'Brien explains to IVF Daddies 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.

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February 21, 2024