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Life after death

15 January 2009
Issue: 7352 / Categories: Features , Public , Human rights
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Seamus Burns discusses the grey areas of law and ethics surrounding donor consent

Tragically, in June 2007 H, (who was married to L and had a 10-month old daughter), died unexpectedly in hospital after an appendectomy. The couple had not had any discussions as to what should happen if H (aged only 31) died in hospital. H’s death came as a hammer-blow to L, and as Mr Justice Charles in L v The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority [2008] EWHC 2149 (Fam) said “…the steps that she took in its immediate aftermath were motivated by the wishes of herself and her husband to have another child, her wish to have another child who by blood would be a full sibling to her existing child and time to think about whether she should pursue that course”. Clearly L had to act immediately and decisively to retrieve and preserve H’s sperm. Thus, she made an out of hours application to Mrs Justice Macur, for declaratory relief on 26/6/2007.

The hospital, but not the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
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