For the past seven days, adoption of embryos has been legal in the U.S. state of Georgia. This law -- which went into effect July 1 -- is the first of its kind in the nation, according to an article by Stephen Gurr of the Gainesville Times:

The Option of Adoption Act was introduced by state Rep. James Mills, R-Chestnut Mountain, and is viewed as a victory for anti-abortion groups who want the law to recognize embryos in their earliest stages of development as people. ...

Daniel Becker, president of Georgia Right To Life, said the law could encourage adoptions and more in-vitro fertilizations with the estimated 40,000 embryos cryopreserved in Georgia fertilization clinics. Those who adopt the embryos, most only 2 or 3 days old, for in-vitro fertilization will be eligible for an $11,000 federal adoption credit under the new law, Becker said. ...

In the past, Georgians were allowed to "donate" embryos, but did not fully relinquish parental rights during the time a child was being brought to full term by another, which could potentially lead to court battles over custody.

Under the new law, people who adopt embryos will be eligible for an $11,000 federal adoption credit.

Labels: adoption_laws, embryo_adoption

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

Today, the Georgia House of Representatives passed a bill which allows for the adoption of embryos that are currently in cryopreservation. The bill also designates embryos as children, rather than property.

"You donate property, but you adopt persons... While four states have recognized some form of embryo 'donation', none of those states have a statute explicitly authorizing embryo 'adoption'."

The bill goes next to the Georgia Senate. If the bill is passed there and signed into law by Governor Sonny Perdue, Georgia will become the first state to designate the transfer of human embryos as adoption rather than donation. Source: MetroCatholic

Labels: embryo_adoption, childrens_rights

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Nightlight Adoptions is an adoption agency with a unique twist. It facilitates the adoption of frozen embryos. Because it can be a delicate issue with some unique legal challenges, Nightlight organized an essay competition inviting law students to submit position papers on embryo adoption.

"The winning students carefully tackled the issue of how to handle custody of a child born through embryo adoption after discovering that the egg donor never intended for any resulting embryos to be donated."

First place went to a student from the Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Fla., who received a $2,500 cash prize and a trip to the 2008 Emerging Issues in Embryo Donation and Adoption conference in Washington, D.C. Source: BusinessWire

Labels: agencies, embryo_adoption, custody

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

It doesn't get much press, but embryo adoption is becoming increasingly popular among couples who are unable to conceive children naturally. The week of July 30th, families who have adopted embryos through the Snowflakes™ Frozen Embryo Adoption Program are getting together to share their experiences.

"Friday evening there will be an informative seminar featuring both donating and adoptive participants, as well as a physician who will explain the medical side of the option. The following day, several families will be participating in a 'play-date' reunion with their adopted children."

The main event takes place on Friday, August 3rd in Lewis Center, Ohio. The reunion happens the following day in Plain City. Read more at Home.Businesswire.com.

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Labels: embryo_adoption, conception, alternatives

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

In 1997, Christian adoption center Nightlight launched the first-ever program aimed at encouraging embryo adoption. This week, its Embryo Adoption Awareness Center received a grant to fund its ongoing work.

“Couples who have received in vitro fertilization treatment frequently have more embryos created than they end up using for themselves. When they have completed their fertility treatments they may have remaining embryos in frozen storage.

They are faced with the difficult decision of what they should do with these remaining embryos. There are currently an estimated 500,000 embryos in frozen storage in the United States.” - Source: Business Wire

Through programs like Nightlight, couples are given the option of donating their remaining embryos to other couples. An embryo is implanted in the adoptive mother, and she carries the baby that she will adopt. It’s interesting legal ground, too, but laws are slowly changing to allow adoptions to be finalized sooner and more quickly – though the adoptive parents still have to wait until after the baby is born.

 

Labels: embryo_adoption

Posted By: Adoption Issues 1 Comment