header-logo header-logo

13 April 2007
Issue: 7268 / Categories: Legal News , Public , Family , Human rights
printer mail-detail

Evans loses final frozen embryo court battle

Natallie Evans’s legal bid to have a child using embryos which were frozen before she was made infertile by cancer treatment has been knocked back by the Grand Chamber of the European Court.

Natallie Evans’s legal bid to have a child using embryos which were frozen before she was made infertile by cancer treatment has been knocked back by the Grand Chamber of the European Court.

The embryos were created after she had IVF treatment with her partner Howard Johnston. However, he withdrew his consent to use them after the couple split in 2002.

UK laws allow either party to withdraw consent up to the point where the embryos are implanted. Evans argued that Johnston had already consented to the embryos’ creation, storage and use, and should not be allowed to change his mind.

 However, that argument—which has already been rejected by the High Court and the European Court of Human Rights—has been dismissed by the Grand Chamber.

Following a unanimous ruling, the 17 human rights judges said in

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: John McElroy, London Solicitors Litigation Association

NLJ Career Profile: John McElroy, London Solicitors Litigation Association

From first-generation student to trailblazing president of the London Solicitors Litigation Association, John McElroy of Fieldfisher reflects on resilience, identity and the power of bringing your whole self to the law

Clarke Willmott—Elaine Field

Clarke Willmott—Elaine Field

Planning and environment team expands with partner hire in Manchester

Birketts—Barbara Hamilton-Bruce

Birketts—Barbara Hamilton-Bruce

Firm appoints chief operating officer to strengthen leadership team

NEWS
A wave of scandals has reignited debate over misconduct in public office, criticised as unclear and inconsistently applied. Writing in NLJ this week, Alice Lepeuple of WilmerHale says the offence’s ‘vagueness, overbreadth & inconsistent deployment’ have undermined confidence
FIFA’s 2026 Men's World Cup is already mired in controversy, with complaints over ‘excessive prices’ and opaque ticketing. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dr Ian Blackshaw of Valloni Attorneys warns that governing bodies may face scrutiny under EU competition law, with allegations of a ‘dominant—if not monopolistic—position’ in ticket sales
Ten years after Brexit, UK and EU trade mark regimes are drifting apart in practice if not principle. Writing in NLJ this week, Roger Lush and Lara Elder of Carpmaels & Ransford highlight tighter UK scrutiny after SkyKick, where overly broad filings may signal ‘bad faith’
A landmark Supreme Court ruling has underscored the sweeping reach of UK sanctions. In NLJ this week, Brónagh Adams and Harriet Campbell of Penningtons Manches Cooper say the regime is a ‘blunt instrument’ requiring only a factual, not causal, link to restricted goods
Fraud claims are surging, with England and Wales increasingly the forum of choice for global disputes. Writing in NLJ this week, Jon Felce of Cooke, Young & Keidan reports claims have risen sharply, with fraud now a major share of litigation and costing billions worldwide
back-to-top-scroll