Session 101: Prison and Assisted Reproduction
Tuesday, 19st July at 3pm EST, 8pm UK, 9pm CET
Description: International IVF Initiative I3- Online Session 101-Prison and Assisted reproduction 19th July, 2022. [ 97mins]
Course outline/synopsis:
Embryologists and legal professional talked about access to fertility treatment within the prison and justice systems of countries around the world.
The moderators were Lyndon Miles, UK embryologist and US Attorney Colleen Quinn but experts in legal matters concerning assisted reproduction.
The webinar sort to highlight what modern ART techniques could be used both with case studies and theoretically while a person was incarcerated, plus to introduce the concept of safeguarding the welfare of the child in any IVF case.
The webinar examined the question of whether prisoners should retain the right to a private and family life, the right to procreate and whether restricting prisoners from procreating should form a part of their punishment.
An introduction by senior embryologist Lyndon Miles sets the scene for what is possible in the fertility treatment of prisoners.
He discussed true events in several countries around the world and highlighted high profile legal battles on this topic. Lyndon introduced the idea of fertility preservation for inmates and finished with a detailed description of what is permissible in the UK and spent ample time on the everyday practice of “Welfare of the child” assessments that are mandatory in every ART case in the UK under the watch of the HFEA.
Lyndon was joined by Dr Dawn Kelk as panelist who gave her expert opinion as an embryologist practicing in N. America and was helpful throughout the webinar including the Q and A section in the latter part the webinar.
US attorney, Will Claiborne gave a talk on “Realities of prison healthcare” and introduced real audio of failings within the justice departments and together with retired attorney Ruth Claiborne they discussed topics such as “Autonomy in procreation, parentage, and the child’s best interest” with special focus on people would were prisoners or had a criminal record.
Finally, there was a round table discussion joined by UK’s leading ART lawyer James Lawford Davies where topics were discussed between the experts and interaction by LIVE questions from the audience of the online session.
Topics included the right to procreate, civil rights and fertility preservation within the criminal justice systems and the recent overturning of Roe V Wade and its global repercussions and accompanying thoughts and reactions from around the world.
Moderators:
Colleen Quinn and Lyndon Miles with James Lawford Davies and Dr. Dawn Kelk
Presenters:
Lyndon Miles: "Cell mate: Incarceration, planned pregnancy and welfare of child- the extended possibilities with ART"
Will Claiborne “Realities of prison healthcare”
Ruth Claiborne “Autonomy in procreation, parentage, and the child’s best interest”
Discussion: The right to procreate, civil rights and healthcare realities in criminal justice systems and beyond!
RUTH CLAIBORNE
Ruth F. Claiborne, founding partner of Claiborne | Fox |Bradley | Goldman, recently retired after a long career as an innovative lawyer who practiced in the forefront of family-building, Over the years, Ruth established herself as one of Georgia’s most pioneering and preeminent reproductive technology and adoption attorneys. She loved serving individual clients, but through lobbying and public service appointments, she also took part in shaping public policy around assisted reproductive technology, adoption, child advocacy, and special education.
Ruth’s career included several milestone events. In 1998, Ruth completed the first co-parent adoption between same-sex couples ever granted in Georgia. In 1996-97, Ruth handled her first egg donation and gestational surrogacy cases, making her one of the very first lawyers in Georgia to ever handle assisted reproduction matters. In 2009, she obtained the first joint pre- birth parentage order granted in Georgia to a same sex couple in a surrogacy matter.
Ruth spent much of her career working as a judicial officer and serving as a legislative consultant before the Georgia General Assembly. From her judicial experiences, she gained insights into fair and impartial adjudication, especially where novel issues were involved that were not always addressed in specific laws yet were within the sound discretion of the judge. In 1991, she was named as a Magistrate Judge specially assigned to the Fulton County Superior Court, and through this part time appointment, she heard and decided cases in Superior and Juvenile Courts for 12 years. She has also held administrative law judge appointments spanning her entire career, starting as an Administrative Law Judge for the Georgia Departments of Education, of Human Resources, Secretary of State Licensing Boards, and Office of State Administrative Hearings.
In 2000, Ruth was honored by the Stonewall Bar Association with its Award for Conspicuous Service to the Stonewall Community. In 2004, she was named an Angel in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Assistance, in recognizing her extraordinary work to promote adoption in the United States. In 2008, she was named a Georgia Super Lawyer in the field of Family Law. She has also served numerous public service appointments, including the Georgia Commission on Women, Georgia Commission on Equality, and on the Georgia Commission on Child Support for 18 years, the longest tenure of any member. In 2020, as she was making the difficult decision to retire from the active practice of law, the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys presented her with the Susan Paquet Mentoring Award in recognition of the guidance she has given to other attorneys in this important area of law.
Ruth now splits her time between Highlands, North Carolina and Atlanta. She is an active member of the Episcopal Churches in Highlands and Atlanta. Her personal passions include spending time with her family, travel, yoga, flower arranging, and decorative arts.
WILL CLAIBORNE
William R. Claiborne is the managing attorney of The Claiborne Firm, P.C. Mr. Claiborne is a well-known and well-respected litigator focusing in the areas of catastrophic personal injuries, high stakes family law matters, civil rights litigation, and public corruption.Since founding the Claiborne Firm in 2008, Mr. Claiborne has litigated cases across the Southeastern United States including jury trials in both State and Federal Courts, exposed public corruption in numerous government agencies and police departments, and recovered tens of millions of dollars for clients.
Beyond delivering results for his clients, Mr. Claiborne has sought to change the systems and institutions which caused the harm. Many cases handled by the Claiborne Firm have received local, national, and even international news media coverage. By exposing the perpetrators of these wrongs, the Claiborne Firm has played a direct role in attacking injustice and forcing reform.
Toda
DR. DAWN KELK
Dr. Dawn Kelk, received her PhD in 1997 and HCLD certification in 2000. She has directed IVF laboratories in both Canada & the United States for both private & academic institutions. She has been Director of the IVF Laboratory at Yale Fertility Center and Associate Research Scientist at the Yale University School of Medicine since 2014. Prior to that time, she was IVF Laboratory Director at RMA of CT & the University of Colorado. Dr. Kelk’s clinical & research interests are diverse, ranging from trophectoderm biopsy, PGT, vitrification of embryos and oocytes to analysis of liquid nitrogen cryo storage tank failure, laser impact on embryo biopsy and predictors of endometrial receptivity. Dr. Kelk is an active member of ASRM & SRBT
JAMES LAWFORD DAVIES
James is a solicitor and partner at Hill Dickinson in London. He advises a large number of clinics, hospitals, universities and researchers licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC). He has been involved in most of the leading cases relating to assisted reproduction, embryo and stem cell research. He also advises on cell and gene therapies, and on the regulation of medical devices and IVD's.James is an experienced litigator and has been involved in cases at every level in the UK courts. Much of his work concerns the judicial review of regulatory bodies, and cases arising as a result of regulatory action.
LYNDON MILES
Lyndon has worked in this field for 25 years. He has extensive experience from working in six IVF clinics, including six years as Senior Embryologist and Harvard Instructor at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. He is experienced in performing preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).Lyndon served for 5 years as a member of the Association of Clinical Embryologists Training and Examination Committee acting at a national level as an assessor for new members of the clinical embryology profession.
COLLEEN QUINN
Honored as a 2021 Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation, with the inaugural 2019 VLW Influential Women in Virginia (Va Lawyer's Weekly), top “Women in the Law” (in Family Law & Personal Injury 2016-20), "The Best Lawyers in America” (U.S. News & World Report 2015-22), AAAA 2018 “President’s Award,” 2017 “Adoption Attorney of the Year” (Lawyers Monthly magazine), 2017 MRWBA Women of Achievement Award, 2016 Richmond NAWBO “Entrepreneur of the Year” award, 2015 Virginia State Bar Family Law Service award, “Virginia’s Top Rated Lawyers” (2012-20) by Law.com and Legal Leaders, “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” by National Trial Lawyers (2012-18), the 2011 YWCA Outstanding Woman Award for Law & Government, the 2011 “Hats Off to Women Award” by the ABWA Cavalier Chapter, “Super Lawyers” Top 100 (2019-22, 2013, 2012))/Top 50 (2011) in Virginia, Top 50 (2012-22)/Top 25 (2010 & 2011) Female in Virginia, and Top 50 (2019-22, 2013)/Top 25 (2012)(Richmond), by Richmond magazine, Virginia’s “Legal Elite” (Virginia Business, 2019-21, 2010-17, 2005), VLW 2009 “Leader in the Law," 2008 Congressional “Angels in Adoption” award, and a “Super Lawyer” by Richmond magazine (2006-22), Colleen Marea Quinn owns the Quinn Law Centers and is a former partner of Locke & Quinn, which received the Trial Lawyers Board of Regents “2015 Litigator Award” (on CNN) and “Best Law Firms in America” 2015-2022 (US News & World Report). She has achieved an “AV” rating, the highest given, by Martindale Hubbell by both peers and the judiciary and "Client Champion" rating by clients. She is the Founder and Host of the “Raising the Bar” Greater RVA Law Talk Radio Show. The Centers include the Women’s Injury Law Center, the Personal Injury & Employment Law Center, the Adoption & Surrogacy Law Center, and the QLC Internship program. Quinn practices personal injury, medical malpractice, employment, family formation (adoption & surrogacy), guardianship and estate planning law, is admitted to the practice in all state and federal courts in Virginia, and she has a background in commercial litigation and insurance coverage.
Quinn graduated from the University of Virginia (JD 1988) and William and Mary (BA 1985) and served as Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Harry L. Carrico, Chief Justice, Virginia Supreme Court 1988. She is a Fellow and 2016-17 President of the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (“AAAA”) having served on the AAAA Board from 2007-11 & 2013-18 and in numerous Officer, Chair and Conference Chair positions. She serves/has served on numerous Boards: Va Law Foundation (VP, Grants Chair), Va Family Law Coalition, National Assoc of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Richmond Chapter (Past-President), Richmond NAWBO Foundation Board (Past-Secretary, Women of Excellence Co-Chair four years), Metropolitan Richmond Women's Bar Association (Past-President, VP, Treasurer, Secretary, JCE Chair), Richmond Women’s Business Consortium (Past-Chairman), Family Formation Charitable Trust (2016-2018), Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (Employment/Civil Rights Section Co-Chair 2012-14, 1999-01, Public Affairs Co-Chair 2011-12, Pro Bono Co-Chair 2010-2011, Diversity Chair 2003-04, CLE, Convention, Amicus, Insurance, and Long Range Plan Amicus Committees), Creating a Family Board (2013-16), United Way Women’s Leadership Council (2012-17), CW of VA Girl Scouts Board (2014+, Treasurer), and the Richmond YWCA (Past-President, Advisory Council). Ms. Quinn is a member of the LGBT Bar Family Law Institute, VEBA, ACLU, Equality VA and Gay RVA. She is a member of ASRM, ABA, RBA, VSB, and the AAJ. She speaks and publishes frequently with over 500 presentations and publications.
She contributes/has contributed to AHA Go Red for Women (Executive Leadership Team; Ruby/COR Vitae), VSDV Action Alliance, Petersburg Domestic Violence Task Force, & LINC, is a 1996 graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond, a Lifetime Girl Scout member and, in her spare time, scuba dives, plays tennis, cycles, mountain bikes and teaches aerobics.