Dodging the Donor Daddy Drama: Creating a Model Statute for Determining Parental Status of Known Sperm Donors

Despite recent innovations in alternative reproduction technology and the increased use of artificial insemination procedures, courts and legislatures have been unable to develop a clear and consistent test to establish the parental rights and obligations of sperm donors. As a result, there are mixed outcomes in cases where intended parents seek child support from an unsuspecting donor or when donors petition the court for visitation with their biological children. This Note seeks to resolve the ambiguity in determining sperm donors’ parental status by proposing a model state statute that makes nonpaternity the default rule. Under the statute, sperm donors would not be subject to any of the parental rights or obligations of a traditional biological father. However, the presumption of nonpaternity could be overcome if the parties agree, in writing, prior to the insemination. Further, the model statute provides an exception to the default rule if the donor has played an active role in the child's life. Adopting this model statute will not only facilitate a market for sperm donation but also make donor rights and obligations clear from the onset.

Key Points for the Family Court Community
• Today, infants born using artificial reproduction technology (ART) represent more than one percent of children born in the United States annually.
• When a donor is anonymous, the law is clear: the donor is not a legal parent. However, the law regarding known donors is less straightforward. Depending on the state and the particular circumstances, the parental status of a known donor is questionable.
• The ambiguity in the law creates confusion and disagreement among the parties in a donor agreement. By comparing factually similar cases, in which courts interpreted donor statutes with identical language, in completely opposite ways, it is easy to see the unpredictability in ART cases.
• The proposed model statute provides unambiguous legislation that sets out a clear standard to be used in determining the parental status of known donors. If adopted by state legislatures, courts across the country would finally have a consistent rule to apply, leading to less confusion and contradictory rulings.
• The key issue is honoring intentional parentage and the proactive choice to use ART to have a child on one's own terms.

     

The ILO Social Protection Floors Recommendation 202, and poverty reduction

This article critically assesses the provisions of ILO Recommendation 202 on social protection floors with a view to ascertaining its efficacy for poverty reduction in poor regions. The article discusses the relevant provisions of the Recommendation and how states, particularly those in developing regions, can translate them to a tool for poverty reduction. The article highlights some of the deficiencies of ILO Recommendation 202 and provides some suggestions for ways forward.     

关于修改后刑事诉讼法执行情况的若干思考

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论政府执法方式及其变革

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随着高新技术的快速发展,标准的知识产权逐渐引起人们的关注.本文介绍了国外主要标准组织的标准知识产权管理策略,从权属的角度标准划分其标准的知识产权管理类型,并且分析了标准与知识产权的关系,提出我国国家标准的知识产权管理策略的构想.     

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无论是人权概念的先验式还是经验式推定,它们所依赖的"人"这一概念都是近代以来的"自然人"———不凭借信仰和神性来支持生命意义的人。正是在一个韦伯所说的"脱魅"之后的世界中,康德论证了人本身的独立和绝对价值,从而为人权概念奠定了根基。以康德的论证来看待现代社会对生命权———死刑、堕胎和安乐死———的争论,或许能够获得新的理解。     

改变美国警察执法的三大案例

与罗马 -日耳曼法系相比 ,普通法系更注重程序公正。马菩诉俄亥俄州、米兰达诉亚利桑那州、泰瑞诉俄亥俄州是 1 960年代美国最高法院有关警察执法的三大案例 ,它们分别确立的排除规则、米兰达警告、滞留与搜拍的权限对美国警察执法产生了重大影响 ,促进了美国警察制度的改革 ,有力地保障了公民的人权。