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News and updates about surrogacy, egg donation, gamete donation, family law, adoption, and a monthly surrogacy movie review.


How Surrogates and Intended Parents in Washington state can receive paid leave
Washington State provides time off to its employees, including surrogates and intended parents, due to pregnancy, childbirth, or parenting. Under Washington's Paid Family Medical Leave Act (PFMLA), an employee may be eligible for up to 18 weeks per year of paid maternity or paternity (parental) leave. Compared to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, Washington's PFMLA provides extra protection for employees who work in Washington. Most significantly, Washington’s PFMLA

Ralph M. Tsong
May 25, 20233 min read


The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Promises to Protect Surrogates and Pregnant Workers in Employment
What the PWFA Is and Why It Matters for Surrogacy The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) is a new law that was signed by President Biden last December 29, 2022 and into effect on June 27, 2023. This law requires covered employers to provide “reasonable accommodations” to a worker’s known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless the accommodation will cause the employer an “undue hardship.” How does this employment law affect surrog

Ralph M. Tsong
May 18, 20232 min read


What is Posthumous Reproduction?
Posthumous reproduction uses a deceased person’s gametes (egg or sperm) and assisted reproductive technology to produce a child. In this article, we are going to breakdown the two types of posthumous reproduction. The first type of posthumous reproduction occurs when the deceased party passes down the gametes to another to have a baby. Just like people will plan for what happens to their possessions after their death, individuals who have retrieved and stored sperm, eggs or

Ralph M. Tsong
May 5, 20233 min read


California’s New Law Affects Donor Anonymity
Recently, California has implemented a law which will have an impact on anonymous sperm, egg and embryo (“gamete”) donations in the future. Effective January 1, 2020, the new Health and Safety Code section 1644.2-1644.3 will require gamete banks (defined as sperm and egg banks and IVF clinics) to (1) provide each donor with information regarding the donor’s choice regarding identity disclosure; (2) obtain a declaration regarding identity disclosure; and (3) maintain identify

Ralph M. Tsong
Apr 19, 20232 min read


What's in an egg donation contract
An egg donation contract is a legal written agreements between the intended parents and the egg donor. The process of egg donation usually commences when the intended parents choose their egg donor candidate. This will be followed by medical screening of the candidate with the IVF clinic, which may include genetic screening. The candidate also does psychological screening with a mental health professional. Once cleared, it goes to the lawyers which leads to the drafting of th

Ralph M. Tsong
Mar 23, 20234 min read
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